Former Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius has been released on parole from a prison in South Africa, nearly 11 years after he shot and killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius, known as the “Blade Runner” for his carbon-fibre prosthetic legs, had served nearly nine years of his 13-year and five-month sentence for the Valentine’s Day shooting in 2013. His release on parole was approved in November, and he quietly left the Atteridgeville Correctional Centre in Pretoria on Friday.
Serious offenders in South Africa are eligible for parole after serving at least half of their sentence, and Pistorius will live under strict conditions until his sentence expires in December 2029. These conditions include anger management courses and programs on gender-based violence, sending a clear message that gender-based violence is taken seriously in the country.
Steenkamp’s mother, June, expressed her affirmation of Pistorius’s release on parole, stating that the conditions imposed by the parole board reflect the seriousness with which gender-based violence is treated. However, she also mentioned that the family had always doubted Pistorius’s rehabilitation and accused him of lying about the events of that night. Steenkamp’s family has never supported his bid for parole, believing that he is not remorseful and should come clean about what happened.
Pistorius will initially reside at his uncle’s mansion in the upscale Waterkloof suburb of Pretoria, but he faces restrictions on leaving his home and abstaining from alcohol. He will have regular meetings with parole officials and will be subject to unannounced visits. Additionally, he is not allowed to speak to the media as part of his parole conditions.
The story of Oscar Pistorius, once a public hero as a Paralympic champion sprinter, turned convicted killer, captivated the world’s attention a decade ago. Having both of his legs amputated below the knee as a baby, Pistorius became a champion sprinter using his running blades and even competed at the 2012 London Olympics. However, his life took a tragic turn when he fatally shot Steenkamp through a locked bathroom door.
Despite Pistorius’s release and the completion of his sentence, the pain remains for Reeva Steenkamp’s family. June Steenkamp emphasized that justice can never truly be served when a loved one is lost forever, and they are left serving a life sentence. She intends to continue focusing on the Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation, an organization that fights against domestic violence, to honor her daughter’s memory.
It is important to note that Pistorius was initially convicted of culpable homicide but later faced a murder charge with a longer sentence. Although he was released on house arrest in 2015, he returned to prison in 2016 and was later relocated to Atteridgeville due to its better suitability for disabled prisoners. Throughout the years, Pistorius has maintained that he shot Steenkamp by mistake.
As Oscar Pistorius begins his life on parole, the world reflects on the tragic events that unfolded and the impact they had on the lives involved. The story serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of domestic violence and the need for continued efforts to combat such acts in society.
