The former Claremont police officer convicted of killing his three children 17 years ago will be placed on parole at the end of July. The Department of Correctional Services confirmed on Thursday that Marius van der Westhuizen appeared before the Parole Board and Correctional Supervision on 18 June 2024.

He was granted parole, with a release date set for 31 July 2024. Spokesperson, Singabakho Nxumalo, says the decision is in line with Section 73 of the Correctional Services Act, “which outlines the minimum sentence period that must be served before parole consideration”. He has served 13 years of his sentence thus far.

This was Van der Westhuizen’s third appearance before the board, his first being in December 2022 when parole was denied due to the need for further profiling. But he was successful in his parole bid at the Malmesbury Correctional Centre on Tuesday.

“Van der Westhuizen has accepted responsibility for his crimes and has participated in therapeutic and other rehabilitation interventions. The victims were involved in the parole-hearing process and have been informed of the [the board’s] decision”

Before his release, Van der Westhuizen will attend pre-release programs designed to help him transition to life outside prison. He will serve the remainder of his sentence under community corrections, monitored according to parole conditions, until September 2034.

Background of the Case

Van der Westhuizen was convicted for the murders of his three children, which he committed on 28 July 2006.

His 16-year-old, 5-year-old, and 21-month-old children were shot and killed, reportedly as a punishment against his then wife.

Van der Westhuizen was a high-ranking police officer at the Claremont police station at the time of the incident.

The Western Cape High Court sentenced him to 14 years’ imprisonment for each count. However, some sentences were ordered to run concurrently with the sentence on the first count, resulting in 24 years’ imprisonment.