By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Paralympian Oscar Pistorius has been released from prison on parole and is now at home, Department of Correctional Services (DCS) said Friday.
“The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) is able to confirm that Oscar Pistorius is a parolee, effectively from 5 January 2024. He was admitted into the system of community corrections and is now at home,” DCS spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said.
The announcement came at around 8:30 a.m., indicating correctional services officials had released the double-amputee Olympic runner from the Atteridgeville Correctional Center in the early hours.
Pistorius has served nearly nine years of his 13 years and five months murder sentence for killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013.
He will be subject to correctional supervision until his sentence ends in 2029. Pistorius is expected to live at his uncle’s home in Waterkloof, an upmarket suburb of Pretoria, and to attend programmes on gender-based violence and anger management.
He will not be allowed to drink alcohol, and will have to get permission to travel or take up employment, which makes it unlikely he will return to the running track soon.
In a statement shared by the Steenkamp family lawyer on Friday, Reeva’s mother June said: “There can never be justice if your loved one is never coming back, and no amount of time served will bring Reeva back.”
Family lawyer said they welcomed the decision.
“In the case of Oscar Pistorius the parole board convened in November and they considered all the factors placed before them and decided to place him on parole subject to certain conditions which includes; anger management courses and attending gender-based violence programmes.
“We believe that this sends out the proper messages to society and that gender-based violence will not be tolerated.”
Pistorius was initially convicted of culpable homicide by Gauteng High Court Judge Thokozile Masipa for repeatedly shooting Steenkamp through his toilet door.
In October 2014, he was released to house arrest to serve the rest of his sentence at his uncle’s home. But in December of the same year, the supreme court of appeal overturned the lower judge’s ruling and found Pistorius guilty of murder, arguing he should have foreseen the possibility of killing someone when he fired the shots.
In 2016 he was sentenced to six years in prison, less than half the 15-year minimum term sought by prosecutors. The following year, the supreme court ruled that sentence was “shockingly lenient” and raised it to 15 years, minus time already served.