Silverwood Estate ‘back to normal’

An aerial view of the luxury gated housing complex which is home to Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius in Pretoria. Pistorius is charged with the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in the early hours of Valentine's Day. Picture: AP

An aerial view of the luxury gated housing complex which is home to Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius in Pretoria. Pistorius is charged with the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in the early hours of Valentine's Day. Picture: AP

Published Feb 18, 2013

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Pretoria - The situation at Silverwood Estate, in Pretoria, was “back to normal” on Monday after model Reeva Steenkamp was shot dead at paralympian Oscar Pistorius' home there last week.

“The tension is over, people are talking, they are no longer whispering,” said domestic worker Andy Maotwe.

Local and international media converged on the golfing estate and motorists took pictures with their cellphones while they drove past after news of the shooting broke on Thursday.

On Monday, as dark rainclouds gathered over the estate, motorists drove by without a second glance.

“My employer told me the latest news this morning and I'm still shocked. I do not know Oscar personally, but after this I'm following any news reports about him,” said Maotwe, who works only on Mondays and Thursdays.

She was shocked to see police officers and journalists at the estate on Thursday. Nobody had been able to tell her what had happened, other than that someone had been shot .

Another worker, Maria Sello, said she discussed the shooting with her employer on Monday morning.

“We talked about it, the court proceedings tomorrow and the possible sentence,” she said. “We feel sorry for him (Pistorius).

Other workers said they were keen to hear whether Pistorius would be granted bail when he appeared in court on Tuesday.

Pistorius is expected to apply for bail at the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Tuesday. The State has indicated that it intends opposing the application. - Sapa

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