Pretoria - Monday night is the last time Oscar Pistorius sleeps in his Pretoria prison cell before he exchanges it for more freedom and privacy at his uncle Arnold’s luxury Waterkloof home.
Although the family is not commenting on the matter, Pistorius will no doubt be pleased to be released on correctional supervision, after his hopes of leaving the prison earlier were dashed at least three times over the past two months.
A heavy media contingent is expected at the Kgosi Mampuru II Prison and the Pistorius home to try to catch a glimpse of the former Paralympian star.
It is not yet known at what time he will be released and whether he would follow the normal administrative process of first reporting to the Correctional Services administration building in the CBD to meet his correctional supervisor, or if alternative arrangements have been made.
In June, Pistorius – who was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment after shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp through a toilet door – was advised that he would be granted parole on August 21. But on the eve of his scheduled release, Justice and Correctional Services Minister Michael Masutha referred the matter to the parole review board, as he believed the decision to release him had been made prematurely.
The review board hit the ball back into the court of the parole board, leaving Pistorius and his family uncertain as to when he would be released. In stalling the matter further, the board said it wanted to obtain new submissions from the parents of Steenkamp regarding Pistorius’s release.
The Steenkamps said they would not be making new submissions, and last week Pistorius heard he would be able to leave the prison on Tuesday.
Tania Koen, the lawyer representing June and Barry Steenkamp, said the family felt the same as they had in June when they made representations to the parole board.
“They feel that there is nothing which would bring Reeva back. They do not hate him (Pistorius) and they do not care whether he comes out or not. They will not allow him to further affect their lives,” she said.
Pistorius’s lawyer, Brian Webber, said the terms of Oscar’s release were expected to be announced on Tuesday.
On November 3, the State is expected to appeal Pistorius’s culpable homicide conviction for him to be convicted of murder instead.
Cape Times
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