Sharon Jeenabhai's 10-year-old daughter was indecently assaulted and strangled 17 years ago, and her neighbour Devapragasan Munsamy was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the crime.

According to the report Jeenabhai brought an application before the High Court in Pietermaritzburg on Monday to stop Munsamy's parole hearing, which was set down for Tuesday.

It was agreed that the parole hearing would be rescheduled.

Jeenabhai's lawyer, Mahendra Chetty of the Durban Legal Resource Centre, said it was a precedent-setting case.

Jeenabhai was now entitled to all relevant information and documentation before the parole board, including a full transcript of previous hearings, reports of any disciplinary offences, and social worker's reports.

"These had all previously been denied to the other relatives of victims of crime. Through this [court order]... there is agreement that they have the right to these documents," Chetty was quoted as saying.

SAPA/Citizen