Infamous ‘Ninja Killer’ Morné Harmse is out on parole after serving less than 14 years of his 20-year sentence for murder and attempted murder.

In 2008, the then 18-year-old Krugersdorp schoolboy – wearing a disturbing mask – used a samurai sword to kill a classmate, and wound three other people.

National spokesperson for the Department of Correctional Services Singabakho Nxumalo says Harmse completed his legislated minimum detention period on June 9, 2019, and was released on parole on March 3.

If he were to serve his full sentence, he would have remained behind bars until March 9, 2029.

Nxumalo says Harmse appeared before the Zonderwater Correctional Supervision and Parole Board (CSPB) in Cullinan eight times. His first seven parole applications were rejected because Harmse had ‘other problems that he needed to attend to’, but this eighth application was successful.

In December 2019, Harmse took part in a restorative justice programme, which brings together offenders, victims and affected parties and is meant to highlight the human impact of the crime and shift the focus to repairing the harm done.

During the victim-offender mediation process, it was found that Harmse needed to complete substance abuse and gangsterism programmes, and his post-parole support system needed to be assessed, before the CSPB could make an informed decision.

Victim’s aunt speaks out

Despite the restorative justice programme and Harmse having met the conditions of the parole board, the aunt of Jacques Pretorius, the Grade 9 pupil killed by Harmse, says she is distressed at his release.

Last week, during an exclusive interview with eNCA’s Barry Bateman and Krugersdorp News editor Clinton Botha in Cresta, Johannesburg, Leonie Pretorius, the Pretorius family spokesperson, said she did not believe Harmse was ready to be released.

“I was very shocked when I saw in an email from correctional services that he had been granted parole. The time he served was insufficient,” she said.

Parole conditions

According to the Department of Correctional Services, Harmse’s parole conditions will not be disclosed. However, the public has been assured that they are strict and should he not comply with them, his parole could be revoked.

“The parole system aims to protect the community through prevention, rehabilitation, control and supervision of parolees. The success of parole is closely related to the effectiveness of the supervision provided,” explains Nxumalo.

The tragic events in 2008

On Monday, August 18, 2008, then matric learner Harmse entered the Hoër Tegniese Skool N Diederichs Technical High School premises (called Nic Diederichs HTS at the time) armed with a katana, also known as a samurai or Japanese sword. He was wearing so-called ninja clothing, according to then Krugersdorp Police Captain Jacob Raboroko.

Harmse donned a mask resembling what is known as a ‘maggot mask’, assumedly imitating the masks predominantly worn by the death metal band Slipknot, which was reported to be among Harmse’s favourites.

Krugersdorp News reported at the time that the matric learner attacked Pretorius in a school hallway during the school’s morning assembly, driving the katana into his neck.

Harmse also seriously injured another learner and two workers at the school.

Raboroko said Harmse allegedly told other learners that Satan had commanded him to kill someone, or he would be killed himself.

Harmse reportedly discarded the katana in the assembly quad after the attacks.

His hearing started on August 31, 2009, in the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division.

On September 10, Harmse was given an effective 20-year sentence by Judge Phillip Hattingh – 18 years for the murder of Pretorius and eight years for the attack on learner Stephanus Bouwer, six years of which would run concurrently with the murder sentence. He was given five years each for the attacks on school workers Lesiba Manamela and Tsiamo Kodisang. These would be served concurrently with the murder sentence.

Judge Hattingh also suggested that Harmse receive psychiatric treatment and rehabilitation during his time in jail.