Infringements led to ex-gang head’s parole revocation
FORMER Hard Livings gang leader Rashied Staggie’s day parole has been revoked, the Correctional Services Department has said.
“He deviated from his conditions, met members of gangs and made unauthorised visits,” spokesman Manelisi Wolela said.
“He admitted the evidence presented by investigators and by his employer and apologised for his conduct.”
Staggie was granted parole on September 23.
He was sentenced in 2003 to 15 years in prison on charges of kidnapping and rape.
In 2004 he received another 13 years for gun theft from a police armoury. The sentences ran concurrently, and he served almost 11 years before his release on day parole three months ago.
Wolela said evidence of the violations was presented and corroborated by technical evidence obtained through the electronic monitoring system used to monitor offenders and those on parole.
“The parole board referred him for further profiling and ordered that he be taken through a behaviour modification programme designed to assist gang members and leaders change their wayward ways,” he said.
Staggie appeared before a disciplinary committee on Wednesday. He had appeared before a case management committee at Pollsmoor Prison, in Cape Town, the day before.
The department previously denied reports that Staggie’s parole was revoked because he joined a political party, the Patriotic Alliance, which consisted mainly of ex-gangsters.
The party was launched in November by ex-convict Gayton McKenzie and his former jail mate and businessman Kenny Kunene. It was reported that Staggie’s role in the party had sparked the move to revoke his parole.
Broadcaster eNCA reported that one of Staggie’s parole conditions was that he not associate with gangsters. By joining the party, he was inadvertently doing so.
Wolela said part of the conditions imposed on Staggie’s day parole were strict supervision, agreeing to electronic tagging and tracking, no contact with victims and no contact with gang members.
Staggie was ordered back to Pollsmoor on December 4.
“Had he not violated his parole conditions he would have been on full parole by March 25 next year up to the end of sentence on 23 March 2017,” said Wolela. – Sapa