Taliep Petersen's family 'relieved' as Najwa Petersen to remain in prison

The family of slain music and theatre icon Taliep Petersen expressed relief after his widow, Najwa Petersen, was denied parole.

EWN has been reliably informed that the Correctional Supervision and Parole Review Board rejected Najwa Petersen's application for release.

This was Najwa Petersen's second parole hearing.

Her initial parole placement date was referred for review last year following an objection from Taliep Petersen's family.

Najwa Petersen qualifies for parole, having served 16 years of her 28-year prison sentence.

Taliep Petersen was shot dead at his Athlone home on the night of 16 December 2006.

Two years later, Najwa Petersen was found guilty of orchestrating his murder and sentenced to 28 years in prison.

Her two co-accused, Abdoer Emjedi and Waheed Hassen, were sentenced to 24 and 25 years, respectively and were released on parole in 2020 and last year.

Taliep's brother, Igsaan Petersen, told EWN that Najwa only had herself to blame for the outcome.

"It's her own actions and her own behaviour and her thinking capacity, that's why she was denied bail [parole]."

The specific reasons for the Correctional Supervision and Parole Review Board's decision have not yet been made public.