A Gauteng woman who embarked on a year-long battle to have her rapist father sent back to prison is “relieved” after his medical parole was revoked thanks to the intervention of the correctional services minister.
John-Daniel Premakaram, 77, was sentenced to 10 years in December 2021 by Durban regional court magistrate Queen Khuzwayo for the rape and indecent assault of his daughter Jessica Louwrens when she was aged between five and 11, and the sexual assault of his niece Simone Kanayee when she was three years old in the late 1970s.
At the time Khuzwayo ordered the sentences not run concurrently and he only be eligible for parole after serving half of his sentence.
But Kanayee was horrified when she saw her attacker standing in a queue at the Chatsworth home affairs office in October 2023, less than two years after the sentencing.
She alerted Louwrens, who after making enquiries with the department of correctional services (DCS) discovered the Durban Westville parole board had released him on medical parole on October 16 2023. Premakaram said he was allegedly terminally ill and suffered memory loss.
Louwrens then embarked on a year-long effort to have the parole reversed, starting with a letter to then DCS minister Ronald Lamola’s office in February 2024. She questioned the “illegal release” based on the magistrate's ruling. She also highlighted neither she nor her cousin were informed or consulted about his parole.
She received no feedback from Lamola’s office, but a new opportunity presented itself after the May 2024 general elections when Pieter Groenewald was appointed minister.
The victims resubmitted their letter in July and by December, Groenewald asked the parole board to review the case.
Since becoming minister Groenewald has been closely involved with cases adjudicated by the parole board.
In July, the parole of child killer Marius van der Westhuizen was suspended after Groenewald referred the board's decision to the parole review board.
Van der Westhuizen is serving a 24-year sentence after being convicted of the murder of his three minor children, but was granted parole after his third attempt. He was expected to have been released on July 31 last year after having served 13 years of his sentence. The parole review board overturned the parole board's decision in August and Van der Westhuizen remains in prison.
In September, Groenewald directed that the decision of the Pollsmoor correctional supervision and parole board to place Najwa Petersen, the murderer of legendary singer Taliep Petersen, on parole be referred to the parole review board. Its decision is still pending.
Two weeks ago he revoked the parole of Alison Botha’s attackers, Frans du Toit and Theuns Kruger. She was kidnapped, raped and viciously assaulted in Gqeberha in 1994.
The two men had been out on parole since July 2023 after serving 28 years in jail.
“It is important to clarify this referral pertains to the procedures followed during the original parole application and the relevant legislative directives, rather than the individual’s medical condition,” said Euné Oelofsen, the minister’s media liaison officer.
The Correctional Supervision and Parole Review Board reversed Premakaran's parole on February 9 and it is understood he was rearrested.
Oelofsen said they have since established “specific provisions and requirements” to be met before the consideration of future parole applications.
“These requirements include, but are not limited to, comprehensive risk assessments and participation in rehabilitation programmes.”
“Victims must be afforded the opportunity to provide input during future parole applications. Parole applications will only be permissible upon the fulfilment of all designated criteria.”
“The revision of the parole system continues to be a priority, and we will ensure that parole board decisions are made in strict adherence to legal guidelines.”
Louwrens told TimesLIVE Premium her initial reaction to the review board’s decision was “shock”.
But seeing this monster of my childhood, now that I remember what he did to me and now that I know what he did to Simone, is very triggering.
— Jessica Louwrens
“I was bracing myself to hear bad news, especially since the opinion expressed by the criminology expert in the (Sunday Times) article a few weeks ago. That comment itself was very discouraging and hit me hard. I understand that she was being realistic based on her knowledge and what she has seen happen.”
“So I was trying to psych myself up and prepare to accept bad news. So my first reaction when my husband told me was disbelief.”
She said her anxiety also stemmed from the fact that the matter had always looked to be an uphill battle throughout, with many negative voices.
“From the very beginning it was always against the odds. I was told that it was a far-fetched idea to have it even go to trial, then when it did I was told that it was unlikely for it to go in my favour because it was so long ago and there is no physical evidence,” she said.
“Then during the trial, many told me because of his age he would most likely not spend any time in prison. I was always presented with hopelessness when I asked the opinion of professionals or anyone knowledgeable of such things. When he got out as you know, it was said that the likelihood of anyone paying any attention to this was extremely close to not at all.”
She has since experienced a whirlwind of emotions.
“Slowly it started to sink in, but I could not really say how I was feeling. Was I happy? No. After a couple of days when the reality of this news started to sink in, the only feeling that I could really say that I had and still have very much is total relief,” she said.
With Premakaram — who is on the sex offenders list — placed into the care of her younger sister who lives with her minor children and close to a primary school, Louwrens said she was especially relieved because his return to prison meant a safer space for the children in that area.
“I am relieved that my niece and nephew are safe. I am relieved that other potential victims are safe. I am relieved that a paedophile is out of everyday society. I am relieved that I can go out of my home and into a public space without what has become the somewhat unconscious habit of looking around to see if he is anywhere nearby.”
Having lived in constant fear ever since she found out that her abuser had been released on parole and that he was living in the same town as her, Louwrens said the parole reversal has also gave her a chance to reflect on what he put her through during her childhood.
“I knew that he is not able to hurt me like he did when I was little. But seeing this monster of my childhood, now that I remember what he did to me and now that I know what he did to Simone, is very triggering. Even seeing a picture of him sends me to a dark place. I have not remembered everything that I had experienced as a child, and I do not want to, what I remember is traumatic enough. But knowing that he is back in prison, where he belongs, helps to know that innocent children are safe from at least one sexual predator.”
She also expressed gratitude at the support she received from different organisations, the media for telling her story and Groenewald’s office for entertaining the matter.
“I am grateful to all who did not discourage me from walking this road in search of justice. There are so many NGOs and organisations that work with cases of this nature. There are a few warriors of this area who have walked with me and have helped by making my story known, all with the hope that someone hears and does something to fix what is wrong. I am even more grateful to people like you (the media) who have respected both Simone and I and have only told the truth about this story.”
“I am so grateful for honest and ethical journalists and media coverage such as what we have had. I cannot express my gratitude enough. Mostly I am grateful for people like the minister of correctional services, his chief of staff and other personnel in his office who did not ignore my cries and gave this case the attention that it has needed.”
“As I said, there is nobody in that office who I have engaged with at any other time, nobody who I have met or had heard of. In other words, no favours were done. I am grateful for people who are not afraid to do the right thing.”
Kanayee was not available for comment.
The two are now waiting to be contacted by the parole board.
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