The last surviving member of the infamous 1980s bank robbing ”Stander gang”, Allan Heyl, is to be released on parole from the Krugersdorp prison on Wednesday, the Department of Correctional Services said on Monday.
”Correctional Services is convinced that offender Heyl responded positively to various rehabilitation programmes that ultimately led to approval for his placement on parole,” it said in a statement.
Heyl, in his early 50s, was a member of a gang that committed a string of robberies in and around Johannesburg over a few months towards the end of 1983 and early 1984. It has been claimed the gang netted more than R500 000 from 20 banks between November 1983 and January the following year.
The gang was led by former police captain Andre Stander, who fled the country and was killed in a shoot-out with police in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in the United States in February 1984.
Another accomplice, Patrick Lee McCall, was killed when police stormed the gang’s hideout in Houghton, Johannesburg, that January.
Heyl was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 1977 for robbing five Pretoria banks. He met fellow inmates Stander and McCall at the Zonderwater prison, and the three escaped in late 1983 before setting off on their robbery spree.
When his accomplices were killed, Heyl fled the country in 1984 for the United Kingdom, 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.
Heyl was denied parole twice in the past two years.
Last year, he unsuccessfully approached the Pretoria High Court for an early release. He reportedly sought his freedom to enable him to claim royalties from a recent American-made film about the gang’s exploits.
The department said on Monday that Heyl will be referred to the community corrections offices in Randburg upon his release, where he will be subjected to conditions to be adhered to while on parole.
”His placement on parole … will give him an opportunity to exercise social responsibility to prevent crime in the country,” the statement said.
Heyl attained a number of certificates while in jail, including on ”the management of change”, emotional intelligence, listening skills, jealousy management, ”investment in excellence” and anger management.
He obtained a certificate in adult education and completed a tutor’s course, the statement said.
”He has also been through the programme aimed at correcting the offending behaviour.”
In a separate statement, Heyl’s media consultant, Stuart Lee, said he is to hold a press conference following his release on Wednesday afternoon.
Heyl is to field questions live on 702 Talk Radio’s David O’Sullivan show from 4pm. — Sapa