Oscar Pistorius was paroled yesterday after being imprisoned for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentine’s Day 2013.
Pistorius was paroled early yesterday morning after serving eight years of his 13-year-and-five-month murder sentence.
Parole was granted after supportive reports from prison officials, including prison social worker Clara Ernst, prison psychologist VK Mabunda, his unit manager, and sports and recreation coordinator TP Hlako.
News24 learnt that several prison officials at the Atteridgeville Correctional Centre visited Pistorius before his release, hugged and prayed for him.
He had worked as a cleaner, driven a tractor, and helped at the prison library. Pistorius was repeatedly a top student in the prison courses he attended.
Pistorius, 37, was released from Atteridgeville and taken to the Waterkloof home of his uncle Arnold Pistorius.
Arnold formally identified himself as the family member who will accommodate Pistorius, care for his ‘basic needs’ and ‘assist him … to comply with his parole or correctional supervision conditions’.
Arnold signed an undertaking ‘to inform the community corrections office’ if Pistorius violated any of his conditions, misbehaved in public or became ‘involved in any criminal activity’.
Gauteng High Court Judge Thokozile Masipa had sentenced Pistorius to six years imprisonment.
The Supreme Court of Appeal found this term too lenient and replaced it with a sentence of 13 years and five months.
Tania Koen, the lawyer for Reeva’s mother June Steenkamp, stressed that she had not opposed Pistorius being granted parole.
‘She feels heard because that is inherently her view … and because those conditions were imposed, she believes that the parole board is sending the right message to society.’