Rassie Nkuna’s Parole Lapse Leads to Multiple Murders

Rassie Nkuna, a convicted criminal with a violent past, was granted parole despite being identified as a high-risk offender. His release, which was poorly monitored by correctional services officials, has led to a series of brutal murders. Nkuna’s parole case exposes significant lapses in the monitoring system, shedding light on the negligence within South Africa’s correctional services.

The Crimes and the Parole Decision

Nkuna was serving life sentences for the 2022 murder of his girlfriend, Pretty Mazibuko, and her sister, a police officer named Marcia. Despite his violent background, Nkuna was granted parole in January 2022, just a few months after being classified as an absconder by the Praktiseer Community Corrections in Limpopo. At the time, he was serving a four-year sentence for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

His release on parole was a controversial decision, as he was classified as a high-risk offender. This classification required him to be monitored closely, including home visits, office check-ins, phone calls, and work visits. However, records indicate that Nkuna’s parole conditions were not met, as he failed to comply with the monitoring requirements on multiple occasions between January and April 2022. Despite these violations, he remained free to commit further crimes.

Murders Committed During Parole

While on parole, Nkuna is accused of committing at least six murders, including the brutal killings of Pretty and Marcia in May 2022. He later pleaded guilty to their murders in 2023. Nkuna is also implicated in the March 2022 kidnapping and murder of a couple, Lucky and Sabeliwe Mogashoa, who were shot in front of their children. Sabeliwe was pregnant at the time of the attack.

Further investigations revealed that Nkuna was involved in the murder of Hillary Gardee in April 2022, the daughter of EFF deputy president Godrich Gardee. Although the case was provisionally withdrawn in April 2023 due to missing witnesses, Nkuna’s violent crimes continued. In August 2022, he allegedly murdered Nonkululeko Nkosi, whom he immobilized with a taser before strangling her and stealing her car.

The Negligence of Correctional Services

An investigation report has revealed that Nkuna’s release on parole was handled poorly by correctional services officials. The decision to grant him parole was made on December 15, 2021, but the parole board was unaware of Nkuna’s classification as an absconder. The report also highlighted that Nkuna’s parole violated several conditions, yet he was not properly monitored. The authorities failed to act on warnings, allowing him to re-offend.

Family Reactions and Legal Actions

The families of the victims, particularly the Gardee family, have taken legal action against the state for negligence in monitoring Nkuna while he was on parole. They have filed a civil lawsuit demanding compensation for their suffering. The Gardee family is also seeking support from other families who have been affected by Nkuna’s crimes, including the Nkosi and Mogashoa families.

Joyce Mogashoa, the sister of one of Nkuna’s victims, Lucky, expressed outrage upon discovering that Nkuna was granted parole at the time of her brother’s murder. She condemned the justice system for failing to prevent further crimes.

Conclusion

Rassie Nkuna’s case has raised serious questions about the effectiveness of South Africa’s parole system. His release, coupled with the failure to adequately monitor him, allowed a dangerous criminal to continue committing heinous acts. The ongoing legal battles highlight the need for reform in the correctional services system to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.