Oscar Pistorius, South Africa’s former Paralympic champion convicted of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, will face restrictions upon his release on parole this Friday, as announced by the prison department.
Pistorius, who fired four shots through a bathroom door on Valentine’s Day in 2013, resulting in Steenkamp’s death, will be prohibited from consuming alcohol and giving media interviews.
At the age of 37, Pistorius received a 13-year and five-month prison sentence for Steenkamp’s murder in 2017, following an appeal court decision. This ruling overturned a previous, more lenient sentence of six years. Pistorius had maintained his innocence, claiming he mistook Steenkamp for a burglar.
South African law permits consideration for parole once an offender has served half their total sentence, and Pistorius will be subject to general parole conditions. Despite his high public profile, the prison department emphasised that he will be treated like any other parolee.
The conditions include specific hours for him to be at home, abstaining from alcohol and prohibited substances, and mandatory participation in programmes identified by the parole board. Similar to other parolees, Pistorius is restricted from conducting media interviews, ensuring a controlled and supervised reintegration into society.
