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SHE’S still haunted by that terrible day when she was called to identify the body of her 10yearold nephew who’d been found in a shal low grave still wearing his school uniform. Elroy van Rooyen was one of 22 young boys murdered in a kill ing spree that sent shock waves across South Africa between 1986 and 1994. The boys were found dead on the Cape Flats after being raped and strangled.
Norman Afzal Simons (56) was convicted of kidnapping and murdering Elroy and suspected of having commit ted the others, although Elroy’s was the only murder the state could pin on him.
He was sentenced to 35 years behind bars and qualified for parole after 28 years. In July he was released from Drakenstein Correctional Centre in Paarl, sparking a public outcry, and is reportedly living with a family member in Parow, Cape Town.
Old wounds have been reopened – and the mere thought of her nephew’s killer being given a measure of freedom is enough to reduce Florence Galant to tears.
“For a long time the pain was better, but now it feels as if Elroy went missing yesterday,” she tells YOU.
According to Candice Van Reenen, correctional services spokesperson in the Western Cape, the convicted child killer will be on parole for the rest of his life. His movements will be closely monitored and if he breaks any of his stringent parole conditions, he’ll go straight back to prison.
It’s cold comfort for Elroy’s family. Florence (60) couldn’t sleep the night before he was released and had to take a tranquilliser to calm her nerves. The know ledge that “the monster” who’d murdered little Elroy was out of jail robbed her of rest and continues to steal her peace.
This story is from the 10 August 2023 edition of YOU South Africa.
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This story is from the 10 August 2023 edition of YOU South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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