Pretoria – Convicted muderer Oscar Pistorius has been granted parole.
The Department of Correctional Services on Friday said Pistorius – who has served time for the murder of his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp – will be released on 5 January 2024.
The double-amputee Olympic medalist was granted parole 10 years after fatally shooting his girlfriend through a toilet door in what he said was a mistaken belief that she was a burglar.
Reeva was only 29 when she was killed.
Pistorius was sentenced to 13 years and five months.
“The parole placement decision was taken by [The] Correction Supervision and Parole Board having assessed the profile of Mr. Pistorius and all other material submitted before it for consideration,” said the Department of Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo.
Pistorious will have to undergo a six-week course to prepare him for his release, Nxumalo said.
After his release, the 37-year-old will not be allowed to leave the area of Pretoria, where he is set to live, without permission from authorities.
Pistorius will also have to attend a program to deal with his anger issues, Nxumalo said.
As part of the parole that is set to last for five years, Pistorius is expected to do community service.
“Parole does not mean the end of the sentence. It is still part of the sentence. It only means the inmate will complete the sentence outside a correctional facility,” Nxumalo said.
Speaking exclusively to The Bulrushes, Tania Koen, the lawyer for the Steenkamps said: “This day is no more sad than any other day has been for June. She lost Reeva long ago… and… so today is no different for her”.
She said Reeva’s surviving parent – June – was satisfied with the conditions imposed by the parole board with regard to Oscar having to undergo anger management programs and courses against gender-based violence.
Reeva’s father – Barry – died a broken man earlier this year, on 14 September 2023. He was 80.
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“She is satisfied that the parole board has obviously considered her victim impact statement and she feels it’s so important and hoping that this is a message to other victims that they should be involved in the process and that they should participate because it’s important that offenders’ full profile is placed before the parole board for them to make an informed decision.”
