What was Correctional Services thinking when they saw fit to release Moehydien Pangaker?
Seriously, with his criminal profile, how did this repeat offender convince the parole board that he was no longer a danger to society?
The 54-year-old, who this week was arrested for the kidnapping and murder of eight-year-old Tazne van Wyk, has a record that reads like Satan’s to-do list.
After his first arrest for housebreaking back in 1981, he was later also convicted of fraud, theft, assault, abduction and culpable homicide.
UNREHABILITATED CRIMINAL: Moeyhdien Pagarker
His criminal career has spanned nearly four decades, and covered Elsies River, Ladismith, Laingsburg and Ravensmead.
Between 1993 and 2016, he was incarcerated FIVE times at four
different prisons.
When Pangaker was last released in October 2016, it was the FOURTH time he had been paroled.
Look, it doesn’t take an expert forensic psychologist to figure out this guy is clearly happy to continue his criminal and prison timeshare lifestyle.
But Correctional Services did not spot this obvious point.
And the result? Little Tazne was kidnapped, and who knows what manner of terror and trauma she had to suffer before her body was dumped - 100km from home in a stormwater drain in Worcester.
KILLED: Tazne van Wyk's body in a stormwater drain in Worcester. Picture: Worcester Standard/Breyten Cupido
Pangaker, the last one to be seen with the child before her
disappearance two weeks ago, and the one who led cops to her body, has blood on his hands.
But he is not the only one.
Correctional Services must take responsibility for their part in giving a repeat offender, an unrehabilitated vark, the freedom to allegedly prey on innocent children.
How do they explain their parole policy to parents Carmen van Wyk and Terence Manuel, who after a fortnight of anguish, tears and sleepless nights, were informed on Thursday that their worst nightmare had come true?
How do they explain it to the hundreds of people involved in the search, and the public at large who prayed for Tazne’s safe return?
WORST FEAR BECAME REALITY: Carmen van Wyk and Terence Manuel
The same question was raised last month when Michaela Williams, 12, of Pelikan Park was raped and
murdered.
In that case, the suspect is a known child rapist who in 2005 did the same thing to an eight-year-old girl.
Except the victim miraculously survived and her testimony helped convict and sentence the monster to 20 years in prison.
Make that 13 years, after his early release on parole in 2018.
GONE: Michaela Williams, 12
Now, the family of Tazne van Wyk have told the Daily Voice that rapists and killers should not be set free.
They should not be locked up for life, and be allowed to live off taxpayers’ money, either.
No, they are calling for the death penalty.
Do you blame them for thinking this way, Mr President?
MOURNING: Great-grandmother Magdalene Khan cries over girl’s memorial photo
Last week, Cyril Ramaphosa called for tougher laws to tackle sexual predators during his SONA speech.
“And the Sexual Offences Act would broaden the categories of sex offenders whose names must be included in the National Register for Sex Offenders,” he said.
“We will pass a law to tighten bail and sentencing conditions in cases that involve gender-based
