While rape survivor Alison Botha is making good progress after suffering a brain aneurysm in September, her freed attackers might soon find themselves back behind bars.

Listen to this article 4 min Listen to this article 4 min Frans du Toit and Theuns Kruger who abducted, raped, mutilated and left Alison Botha for dead on a remote beach in Gqeberha in 1994 were sentenced in 1997 to multiple life terms without the prospect of parole.

But in July 2023, after 29 years in jail, both men were freed in spite of Alison's repeated submissions to the parole board over the years.

Botha's legal team, Tania Koen Attorneys, subsequently submitted to the courts an application for review of the release of Du Toit and Kruger.

Minister of Correctional Services Pieter Groenewald has since undertaken to investigate how two men who were sentenced to life were released.

Worst nightmare

The release of Du Toit and Kruger created enormous anxiety for Alison who had always hung on to the hope and belief that they would die behind bars. The men had been out on parole at the time they attacked Alison and were planning another murder the following day.

On 25 September, Alison suffered an aneurysm which left her with massive swelling and potential long-term damage.

Without medical aid, she was taken up in the public health system where...