Oscar Pistorius, who was released from prison on parole, is currently living in his uncle’s house in Pretoria. Women in particular consider the release of the former top athlete to be wrong.
Lawley Road in Waterkloof is located in an exclusive area of Pretoria, the South African capital. Entrepreneurs, celebrities and diplomats live here. People who are doing well. Arnold Pistorius for example. He is the uncle of Oscar Pistorius.
And as things stand, the former world-class sprinter who was convicted of murdering his girlfriend will also be at home in Lawley Road for a long time. He was already living with his uncle during the court proceedings.
“Oscar Pistorius has been out on parole since January 5th and he is now at home,” said a spokesman for the justice administration. When and how Pistorius was brought to Waterkloof is something of a state secret. This may have already happened yesterday to prevent a media spectacle. In any case, reporters from all over the world waited in vain today.
No alcohol, no drugs, no interviews
Pistorius was released under strict conditions. Among other things, he is not allowed to leave his place of residence without permission from the authorities, has to do social work and complete anti-aggression training so that he can get his tantrums under control, especially towards women. Alcohol and drugs are taboo for him, as are interviews. The probation period runs until 2029.
The response to the decision is mixed. Many people think they are wrong – especially women. This is hardly surprising, also because violence against women is a major social problem in South Africa. “Many are behind bars for life, it’s really unfair that Oscar Pistorius is being released early” – that’s a statement made on the day of his release. Or: “Convicted murderers should stay in prison longer.”
Pistorius was once a great role model
It’s clear: the top athlete, who became known as the “Bladerunner” because of his prosthetic legs, has fallen deeply. From celebrated role model to convicted murderer. Former police psychologist Gerard Labuschagne spoke to Oscar Pistorius for a long time shortly after the crime on February 12, 2013 and followed the trial closely.
“It wasn’t just about the murder charge. It was also about a shot that was fired in a busy restaurant, a shot from the sunroof of a car. That’s a side of Oscar that we didn’t expect,” said Labuschagne . “Arrogant, and boastful. Yet most of us thought of him as a lovely person, a hero.”
character witness testified for Pistorius
The Icelandic woman Ebba Gudmundsdottir testified in the trial as a so-called character witness for the defendant. She has known Pistorius since 2006. At that time, both of her newborn son’s lower legs had to be amputated. The successful disabled athlete from South Africa gave the family new hope. An exchange of letters developed into a friendship that continues to this day. The news of the fatal shooting came as a shock to her.
I knew: It must have been an accident. Because he was always so afraid of crime in South Africa. And today I can understand even better how vulnerable you feel when you don’t have feet.
“Reeva won’t be coming back”
June Steenkamp, the mother of the murder victim, cannot believe that Pistorius shot her daughter through the bathroom door out of fear of a burglar. She still believes that release under strict conditions is right. The decision sends a “clear message that gender-based violence is taken seriously in South Africa,” it said in a written statement.
But also: On February 14, 2013, the country lost its hero, and she lost her precious daughter. “June Steenkamp can’t just move on because Reeva won’t come back,” says Tania Koen, the family’s lawyer. “June feels, like everyone who has lost a loved one, that she must serve a life sentence.”
Stephan Ueberbach, ARD Johannesburg, tagesschau, January 5th, 2024 3:05 p.m