Former Paralympian Oscar Pistorius has been granted parole effective from 5 January 2023. This was confirmed by the Department of Correctional Services on Friday.
Pistorius was found guilty of the murder of his then girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day in 2013 and sentenced to 13 years.
“The parole placement decision was taken by the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board having assessed Pistorius profile and other material submitted for the purposes of parole consideration.
“Classified as a first-time offender with a positive support system, Pistorius parole placement is in line with Section 73 of the Correctional Services Act.
“Parole placement forms part of the total rehabilitation programme in correcting offending behaviour and may include continuation of programmes aimed at reintegration whilst in the system of community corrections,” said the Department in a statement.
The department spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said the athlete will now undergo a pre-release programme where an inmate is prepared for life outside the correctional facility.
He highlighted that the athlete, just like all parolees, will be monitored by officials from the community corrections until his sentence expires in 2019.
“Not everyone will find it easy to adjust, so psychologically ought to prepare that inmate. Not everyone will welcome you, others will open your arms to you and how to react.
“Also, when they find out how to handle such matters and how to react with the monitoring officials,” said Nxumalo during a media briefing outside the Atteridgeville Correctional Centre.
Earlier today family spokesperson Rob Matthews read a victim impact statement to the parole board on behalf of Reeva’s mother June.
In the statement, June said she still doesn’t believe Pistorius’ version that he shot Reeva believing that she was an “intruder.”
