Disgraced tennis star's release suspended

In 2015, the former professional tennis player was handed a six-year jail sentence for the rape and sexual assault of two underage girls he had coached in the 1980's and 90's. 

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Chrispin Phiri, who is with the Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services, says it has come to their attention that the 79-year-old's victims were not consulted in the process to grant him parole.

"The information that the victims were not consulted will be placed at the disposal of the review committee. The review committee will then take it into consideration and make a decision," said Phiri.

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Meanwhile, the KwaZulu-Natal Network on Violence Against Women's Cookie Edwards feels Hewitt should not be considered for parole.

"He should serve his whole sentence. Even six years is too little," she said.

"President Cyril Ramaphosa has just called for life sentences. So what is him serving four years going to do, has he been properly rehabilitated," asked Edwards.

She believes longer sentences are needed if the country is going to crack down on the high rate of sexual offences and crimes against women and children in the county.

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It is understood that only one of the women had been notified about the Hewitt's possible parole.

Lawyer Tania Koen has been representing two of the women.

Koen says one of them was shocked when she received a letter from the department about Hewitt's possible release.

"My client feels that three years, because that is effectively the period that Hewitt has been incarcerated for, is just not enough because of the damage that he caused them," she said.

"He raped them, he sexually abused them - three years just doesn't send out the right message to society."

"With gender-based violence and the rape of our children so prevalent now, this would send out the wrong message."

Hewitt's possible parole comes at a time when South Africans are fighting for government to implement measures to put an end to gender-based violence and other crimes against women and children.

Several high profile cases in recent weeks, including reported kidnappings and disappearances, rapes and murders here in KwaZulu-Natal abnd across the country, have forced thousands of concerned citizens to take to the streets in protest.

Many are calling for suspects arrested in connection with gender-based violence not to receive bail, quicker court proceedings and longer sentences to those convicted of related crimes.