Johannesburg – Barry Steenkamp has died at the age of 80.
“It is with great sadness that I confirm the sudden passing of Barry Steenkamp… peacefully in his sleep in the early evening of 14 September 2023,” family lawyer Tania Koen told The Bulrushes on Friday morning.
Barry was the father of Reeva Steenkamp, a model and paralegal. She was the girlfriend of world-renowned sprint athlete Oscar Pistorius, dubbed “the Blade Runner”.
However, Barry’s world was never the same after the double-amputee sprinter shot Reeva dead at his house on Valentine’s Day in 2013.
Pistorius is still in prison for Reeva’s murder.
“Barry recently celebrated his 80th birthday, but his health has always been poor,” lamented Koen.
“Barry will be remembered for the gentle giant that he was… but also for the profound sadness that was part of his life as he could never accept and come to terms and find peace with Reeva’s death.
“We now find solace in the fact that he is with Reeva, in the hope that he now finds the peace that he deserves.”
Barry is survived by his wife, June
Earlier this year, Pistorius’ parole bid collapsed after it was revealed in court that he had not yet served enough time to qualify for early release.
The Blade Runner, who still maintains he mistook Reeva for an intruder when shot her from behind a closed bathroom door, was sentenced to 13 years in jail for killing the model.
Pistorius will be due for parole next year.
