South African athlete released under parole conditions amid controversial legal journey

South African athlete Oscar Pistorius, convicted for the 2013 murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, has been released on parole from Atteridgeville Correctional Centre in Pretoria. Pistorius’ release comes after a complex legal journey, including a manslaughter conviction in 2014, an upgraded charge to murder, and subsequent sentence adjustments.

Initially sentenced to five years for manslaughter, Pistorius faced a higher court overturning that verdict and reclassifying the crime as murder. His sentence was increased to six years, and after an appeal by prosecutors, it further escalated to 13 years and five months. Having served nine years behind bars, Pistorius was granted parole in November 2023, having met the requirement of serving half of his sentence.

Under parole conditions, Pistorius must adhere to specific regulations until his sentence concludes in 2029. Singabakho Nxumalo, spokesperson for the Department of Correctional Services, confirmed Pistorius’ release, stating that he “is now at home.”

As part of his parole, Pistorius is required to stay in Pretoria, attend rehabilitation programs, and abstain from alcohol and banned substances. The Department of Correctional Services emphasized that, like other parolees, Pistorius is prohibited from conducting media interviews.

Oscar Pistorius, a Paralympic athlete with amputated legs below the knee, maintains that Steenkamp’s death was accidental, contending that he mistook her for an intruder. Prosecutors argued that the killing occurred in a fit of rage following an argument.

In response to Pistorius’ release, Steenkamp’s mother, June, released a statement expressing her desire to live her remaining years “in peace.” June emphasized that the pain of losing her daughter is “still raw and real” after 11 years, stating, “We, who remain behind, are the ones serving a life sentence.”

The conditions of Pistorius’ parole reportedly include anger management courses and programs addressing gender-based violence, aligning with South Africa’s “Restorative Justice” process aimed at encouraging acknowledgment and responsibility for actions by those convicted.