‘Coffin assault’ convicts back behind bars after parole revoked

Two men who were found guilty of forcing a man into a coffin in 2016 will be to returned to jail after erroneous adjudication by the parole board.

Back in the box

Willem Oosthuizen and Theo Jackson will have to go back behind bars after it was found that the parole board did not follow the correct procedures. 

The pair from Middelburg, Mpumalanga, were convicted of assault with the intention to do grievous bodily harm, kidnapping, attempted murder, intimidation and defeating the ends of justice in 2016.

Oosthuizen was initially sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment and Jackson to 14 years after he was also found guilty of defeating the ends of justice by trying to burn the coffin.

The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) amended their sentence in December 2019, finding them guilty of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and kidnapping, while Jackson maintains his convictions of defeating the ends of justice.

Their convictions of attempted murder and kidnapping were overturned though.

Justice and Correctional Services spokesperson Crispin Phiri Sid that proper procedures weren’t followed in the deliberation of their release. 

“Following a review of the processes conducted to grant the two set individuals parole, we have established that a proper victim offender dialogue process was not followed. As such the department has decided to revoked  the  decision to grant these two individuals parole.”

The parole board previously allowed them to walk free after serving just over two years behind bars.

“Having served the minimum required time and fully completed the necessary rehabilitation programmes, the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board resolved to place them on parole,” said Correctional services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo earlier this week.

“They now remain under community corrections and will be monitored as per their parole conditions until the expiry date of the sentence,” he said.  

Unforgivable assault on dignity

The infamous coffin assault was performed after the men tracked down Victor Mlotshwa, who they believed was guilty of stealing copper cables and trespassing on their farm. Once they had located him, they filmed themselves forcing him into a coffin and threatening to burn him inside once the lid was nailed shut. 

He maintained that he was innocent of the crime Oozthuizen and Jackson were accusing him of.

The video of the incident went viral and the pair were arrested after a public outcry about their treatment of Mlotshwa.

The overturning of the decision to release them early follows a revision of parole board procedures after a wave of violent murders in the Western Cape at the hands of parolees.