An Infamous Kidnapper’s Path to Parole: The Release of Lavona Solomon

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south africa kidnapping

Lavona Solomon, the kidnapper responsible for one of the most sensational kidnapping cases in South African history, will be released on parole after serving a portion of her 10-year prison sentence.

The Crime

In April 1997, Solomon abducted three-day-old Zephany Nurse from Cape Town’s Groote Schuur Hospital. She renamed the baby Miché and raised her as her own. Zephany was reunited with her biological family after her biological sister, Cassidy Nurse, attended the same high school. Students and teachers noticed their striking resemblance, sparking conversations about their possible relation. Eventually, it was established that the girl known as Miché was, in fact, the long-lost Zephany Nurse.

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The Parole Process

As per the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board’s recent decision, Solomon will be released on August 18th, with her parole to be supervised for three years. Before her release, Solomon will undergo pre-release programs, as stated by Candice van Reenen, a spokesperson for correctional services. Following her release, Solomon will enter the Community Corrections system and serve the remainder of her sentence until 2026.

Factors Influencing the Decision

In July of last year, the board decided that Solomon needed to complete additional evaluations and participate in a victim-offender dialogue process for the purposes of restorative justice. After resubmitting her profile earlier this month, it was decided to grant her parole. Van Reenen cited factors such as Solomon’s response to rehabilitation programs, support systems in the community, the probability of reoffending, and the risk she may pose to the community or the victims as influencers in this decision.

The Impact

Solomon’s trial took place in the Western Cape High Court in August 2016, where she was found guilty and sentenced to 10 years in prison for her crime. The upcoming release of this infamous kidnapper marks a pivotal moment not only in her life but also for her victims and the community as a whole. As Lavona Solomon prepares for her release, one can only hope that the family involved will continue to heal and find peace in the years to come.

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Lerato Mokena is a Cape Town-based journalist who covers the city’s vibrant arts and culture scene with a focus on emerging voices from Khayelitsha to the Bo-Kaap. Born and raised at the foot of Table Mountain, she brings an insider’s eye to how creativity shapes—and is shaped by—South Africa’s complex social landscape. When she’s not chasing stories, Lerato can be found surfing Muizenberg’s gentle waves or debating politics over rooibos in her grandmother’s Gugulethu kitchen.

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