A father's pain

It's a case that shocked South Africa 17 years ago.

In July 2004 University student Leigh Matthews was kidnapped and later killed.

She was abducted from a car park in Johannesburg just a day after her 21st Birthday.

The family paid a R50 000 ransom for her release. But less than two weeks later her body was found. She had been shot four times.

Donovan Moodley pleaded guilty to the crime. In 2005 he was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, 15 years for kidnapping and 10 years for extortion.

Just weeks before what would have been Leigh’s 38th birthday her family is now speaking out. 

They were contacted by the Department of Correctional Services, ahead of a pending parole process, because Moodley could qualify for an early release.

Leigh’s father, Rob Matthews spoke to us and said the entire experience has been traumatic.

To date, Moodley has shown no remorse according to him.

Under the law anyone sentenced to life imprisonment before the 1st of October 2004 can be considered for parole after just 12 years and four months behind bars. Moodley could qualify for early release because he falls into this category.

The spokesperson for the Correctional Services Department Logan Maistry says Moodley was already eligible for an early parole process as far back as June 2018. He adds that this doesn’t mean that parole will be granted and that families of victims play a very important role in this process.