Action Society has formally written to the Minister of Correctional Services, Pieter Groenewald, demanding urgent answers and accountability after the unlawful release of convicted murderer Xolani du Preez and two other dangerous offenders from state custody.
Du Preez was serving an 11-year sentence for the 2022 murder of 28-year-old Suritha Alting. Before being transferred to Pollsmoor Correctional Centre, Xolani du Preez was held at the Horizon Youth Correctional Centre, which is located in Faure, near Cape Town. This facility typically houses younger offenders and is managed by the Western Cape Government. Following an assault on staff at the Horizon Centre, Du Preez and the two others were moved to Pollsmoor following a High Court order in July 2024 directed their continued incarceration there due to the seriousness of their crimes. Despite this, they were later wrongfully released after a court appearance as if they were remand detainees, not sentenced prisoners—an error Action Society is now challenging.
Du Preez was later re-arrested—not in connection with the escape, but for allegedly committing further crimes while unlawfully free.
“This wasn’t an escape over a fence in the middle of the night,” said Juanita du Preez, Operational Manager at Action Society. “This was an administrative meltdown—dangerous offenders were simply walked out of custody due to shocking negligence. And more than two months later, there’s still no evidence that any officials have been disciplined, suspended, or charged. That is unacceptable.”
In the letter, Action Society demands a comprehensive written response from Minister Groenewald within 21 days. The organisation has requested:
- Confirmation of the current custodial status of all three men;
- Disclosure of any disciplinary or criminal action taken against officials;
- Full details of how a High Court order was apparently ignored;
- Clarification on victim notification protocols and whether Alting’s family was informed;
- A commitment to an external inquiry into the incident and publication of the findings.
Action Society has also called for a national audit to uncover whether similar cases of misclassification or unlawful release exist across the country.
“South Africans cannot trust a justice system that cannot even keep murderers behind bars,” Du Preez continued. “This goes beyond Suritha Alting’s case—it strikes at the very heart of public safety and institutional competence. If the Department of Correctional Services cannot fix this from within, we will pursue legal and parliamentary action to ensure it is fixed from the outside.”
Action Society will continue to monitor the Department’s response and remains committed to protecting the rights of victims and restoring integrity to South Africa’s broken justice system.
