Oscar Pistorius, the double-amputee Olympic and Paralympic athlete, has been released from prison by South Africa’s Department of Corrections. Pistorius was serving a 13-year and five-month sentence for the murder of Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day in 2013. The release comes after Pistorius served nearly nine years of his sentence. Reeva, a 29-year-old model and law graduate, was shot by Pistorius. Pistorius will now live under strict conditions until his sentence expires in December 2029.
June Steenkamp, Reeva’s mother, issued a statement accepting Pistorius’ parole as part of South African law. She acknowledged that no amount of time served could bring her daughter back and stressed that the family is serving a life sentence with their loss. June Steenkamp expressed her desire to focus on the Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation, continuing Reeva’s legacy.
Despite being released on parole, Pistorius will face several restrictions and conditions. These include limitations on leaving his home, a ban on alcohol consumption, mandatory attendance of anger management and violence against women programs, and the performance of community service. Pistorius will have regular meetings with parole officials and will be subject to unannounced visits by authorities. He is also prohibited from speaking to the media until the end of his sentence. Any breach of his parole conditions could result in his return to prison.
South African correctional services officials clarified that Pistorius will not wear any monitoring devices, as the country does not use tags or bracelets on paroled offenders. However, he will be under constant supervision and required to inform officials of any significant changes in his life.
Throughout the trial, Pistorius maintained that he shot Reeva by mistake, believing her to be an intruder. However, prosecutors argued that he intentionally killed his girlfriend during an argument.
Oscar Pistorius gained international fame as a figurehead of Paralympic sport, winning six gold medals across three Games. He became the first amputee runner to compete in the Olympics during the 2012 London Games, reaching the semifinals in the 400 meters. Pistorius also won a silver medal as part of the 4x400m relay team at the 2011 World Athletics Championships.
Pistorius’ release has drawn significant attention due to the high-profile nature of the case and the tragic loss of Reeva Steenkamp. His parole conditions and ongoing monitoring aim to ensure compliance and accountability as he reintegrates into society.
