When Oscar Pistorius, the former South African Paralympic runner, is freed on parole on Friday, he will not be allowed to speak to the media or consume alcohol, according to jail officials.
Almost 11 years after he shot and killed model Reeva Steenkamp, his lover, he is about to be released from jail.
In the wee hours of Valentine’s Day 2013, Pistorius, 37, shot and killed model Miss Steenkamp by firing four times through the toilet door of his highly guarded Pretoria home.
In late November, a parole board that was examining Pistorius’ suitability for social reintegration decided to release him from prison early on January 5.
‘Just like other parolees, Pistorius is restricted from conducting media interviews,’ the Department of Correctional Services said in a statement.
‘An elevated public profile linked to Pistorius does not make him different from other inmates nor warrant inconsistent treatment,’ it added.
‘For example, he will be expected to be home at particular hours of the day. He may not consume alcohol or other prohibited substances,’ the prison department told the BBC.
According to South African legislation, after serving half of their sentence, all offenders may be eligible for parole.
The ex-athlete is scheduled to be released from a Pretoria suburbia prison on Friday. For “security” considerations, the authorities have not released the time or any other logistical information.
Pistorius’ parole requires him to attend therapy for issues related to anger management and gender-based violence until the conclusion of his sentence in 2029.
Known all over the world for his carbon-fibre prostheses, the man known as “Blade Runner” was convicted of murder in 2017 and sentenced to 13 years and five months in prison following a protracted trial and multiple appeals.
He had entered a not-guilty plea, denied killing Steenkamp, and claimed he had mistaken her for a break-in victim.
In the past, Steenkamp’s mother expressed her doubts about the former athlete’s rehabilitation and claimed he had not given an accurate account of what had transpired.
According to a November statement from South Africa’s Department of Correctional Services (DCS), Pistorius will serve out the balance of his term in the nation’s community correctional system.
Until his sentence finishes in December 2029, he will be subject to parole restrictions and DCS supervision.
A monitoring official will be appointed to him, and it would be his responsibility to keep the official informed when Pistorius moves homes or looks for employment.
The law said that he killed his girlfriend. Should he be allowed out, well, I’m sure that many people will have several views on this.
Nelson Mandela is among the many South African offenders who have been granted early release from prison. Mandela went on to accomplish several commendable things; perhaps this man can too.
Maybe he shouldn’t be freed from prison so quickly, particularly after he killed someone else so callously.
South Africa may be an extremely hazardous country, and living there exposes him to the elements and several risks of being attacked due to the crime he committed. After all, there are always those who feel they are above the law.
It seems that the price of a life is just 11 years, not very long for killing a human being, is it? There will be somebody out there gunning for blood because, let’s face it, Reeva will never get a second chance, will she?
Reeva’s life was ripped from her. Her life was brief yet full of opportunities. I also feel bad for her family because this man will now be as free as a bird after robbing her and her family of everything.
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 