Court documents reveal shocking details of Taliep Petersen's murder as Najwa Dirk's parole is delayed

While Najwa Dirk's parole consideration and placement have been placed on hold until she completes further evaluation, court papers shared with the Cape Argus by Taliep Petersen's family, in a bid to keep her behind bars - tell the brutal reality of the murder masked in betrayal.

It states that Najwa or her former co-accused, Waheed Hassen, who has since been paroled, pulled the trigger that ended the Cape muso's life.

Cape Argus understands that another parole hearing for Dirk is expected to take place in November 2026, with the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) stating they could not comment on dates for consideration.

Last week, National DCS spokesperson, Singabakho Nxumalo explained the decision was made following a process with the recommendation of the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board (CSPB).(CSPB): "The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) wishes to confirm that the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board (CSPB) has considered the parole placement of offender Najwa Petersen. Following its assessment, the CSPB has directed that offender Petersen be afforded a further profile.

"This includes the completion of specified intervention programmes within a set timeframe, as recommended by the Board. Her parole placement will be reconsidered once these programmes have been successfully completed and all related requirements have been met."

Taliep's sister Maatoema Groenmeyer and her siblings are set on launching a second appeal against Dirk's bid to be free but said they did not want the public to forget the brutal, shocking and betrayal-fueled murder which was orchestrated by her former sister-in-law.

"She had her hand on the trigger that ended his life," she said.

According to the 2017 page judgment and sentencing papers registered under the Western Cape High Court shared by the family, the court determined it was either Najwa or Hassen who pulled the fatal trigger on December 16 2006 at the couple's home in Athlone: "One aspect of his evidence is somewhat doubtful. He does not go so far as to say unequivocally that Accused No. 1(Najwa) actually pulled the trigger. He says that he had the gun in the pillow, she put her hands next to his and the shot went off. He says this more than once.

"The evidence of both Wagner and Dicks is to the effect that the shot could not have been fired as demonstrated by Accused No. 3 (Hassen) on the DVD of the pointing out. Dicks, however, accepts that a pillow could have been used. Accused No. 1 (Najwa) says she wasn't in the TV room when the shot was fired."

The court papers go on further to state that the pillow was used to muffle the sound: "It seems that either Accused No. 3 or Accused No. 1 fired the fatal shot. The Court cannot, however, come to any firm conclusion in this regard. The benefit of this doubt must accrue to the accused. Although the Court cannot find who pulled the trigger, it does not mean that the accused did not participate in the murder."

Earlier this month, there was an open dialogue with the community of Athlone, hosted by the CPF, police and DCS.

Najwa was sentenced to 28 years after being convicted of being the mastermind behind her husband's murder, while co-accused Hassen received 25 years. Hassen also met with the parole board in 2021 and was granted parole last year and has been forgiven by both families. Abdoer Raasiet Emjedi, also a co-accused, was sentenced to 24 years behind bars in 2009 and served his minimum term after being convicted of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.Emjedi was released on parole in 2020. Another co-accused, Jefferson Snyders, who was convicted of aggravated robbery and was sentenced to 10 years and acquitted of the murder, died a few years ago.

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