The last surviving member of the infamous Stander gang, Allan Heyl, could be released on parole next November, the Correctional Services department said on Friday.
After considering his case earlier in the day, a parole board has recommended a parole date of November 1, 2005, said spokesperson Molwantwa Mosiane.
The recommendation would be forwarded to the regional correctional services commissioner, who could approve it or turn it down.
Heyl (52) was a member of the Stander gang that committed a string of robberies in and around Johannesburg in 1983 and 1984.
The gang was led by former police captain Andre Stander, who fled the country and was killed in a shoot-out with police in Florida in the United States.
Another accomplice, Patrick Lee McCall, was killed when police stormed the gang’s hideout in Houghton, Johannesburg.
Heyl escaped from Zonderwater prison in October 1983 while serving a 15-year sentence for robbery. During this time, he joined Stander and McCall.
He fled the country in 1984 for England, where he was sentenced the following year to nine years’ imprisonment for crimes committed there.
After serving his sentence, Heyl was extradited to South Africa in November 1991 to stand trial for his Stander gang offences. He pleaded guilty to 18 counts of robbery, 17 of illegal possession of arms and ammunition, five of car theft and one of escaping from prison.
He was sentenced in effect to 25 years in jail, of which he has served 11 years and one day at the Krugersdorp prison, Mosiane said.
A year ago, the parole board declined to give Heyl parole. It set a ”further parole date” of July 20, 2004 for his application to be considered afresh — which it did on Friday.
Heyl is reportedly seeking his freedom to enable him to claim royalties from a recent American-made film about the gang’s exploits.
Earlier this month, he approached the Pretoria High Court for an early release, but the matter was postponed indefinitely. – Sapa