Community rallies to oppose parole for convicted rapist Keith Bird

Activists, including the former cop who arrested convicted killer and rapist Keith Bird, are uniting to ensure he remains behind bars as he seeks parole.

Earlier this week, Cape Argus shared the fears of his victims and their families, calling for him to remain detained.

The Department of Correctional Services said they were not in a position to comment on Victim-Offender Dialogue (VOD) following its commencement at Drakenstein Prison when queried by Cape Argus.

Former veteran cop, Carlo Antha, who secured a plea agreement after the cases against Bird became cold, said he could not be rehabilitated.

Bird, 51, was sentenced to 50 years imprisonment in 2019. He admitted to two counts of murder, seven of rape, four of crimen injuria, and theft. The murder charges related to the 2013 killings of Aniesa Bardien, 36, whom he strangled and bludgeoned with a rock after she ended their engagement, and Sharvonne Sharnice Koense, 20, whom he raped and strangled in Tafelsig.

“His very nature is raping and killing women. He has proven that he can't be rehabilitated. He raped a woman when he was much younger,” said Antha. “He was sentenced. He lived a 'normal' life, killed his fiancée, and acted as if nothing happened. Years later, the killing and rape started, even in the time of Mixit. He is super intelligent and prepared his alibis.”

Former Mitchells Plain Station Commander, Cass Goolam, said the community has to be considered: “Hence, it stands to reason that the current VOD is flawed. There also has to be dialogue with the affected community in that the case was such that it left the communities in shock and disbelief."

Joanie Fredericks, activist and Founder and Lead Coordinator of "Survivors First – Keith Bird Must Stay", who also prepared an online petition, said Bird was a manipulator. “Now, seven years later, the same master manipulator who convinced an entire community he was a man of God while he prowled through our streets hunting victims has found a new way to hunt."

She questioned the process: “This is not a (VOD) dialogue. This is not healing. This is Keith Bird doing what Keith Bird does best: finding the cracks in trust, slipping through the safeguards meant to protect the vulnerable, and making sure his victims never sleep soundly again.”