Johannesburg - The ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) on Wednesday slammed the group of people supporting convicted murderer Oscar Pistorius ahead of his sentencing, saying their actions undermine the plight of women suffering in the hands of their partners.
“The group led by the international community is supporting Oscar Pistorius and was satisfied with the culpable homicide ruling. The group is now gunning for a lenient sentence. However, this stance is undermining the plight of women who continue to lose their lives at the hands of their partners,” said ANCWL secretary Meokgo Matuba.
Last year, the Supreme Court of Appeal overturned Pistorius’ culpable homicide conviction and instead convicted him of murder for shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day, 14 February 2013.
On Monday a group of supporters stood outside the High Court in Pretoria, where Pistorius appeared to have his sentencing date formally set for June 13.
Banners carried by Pistorius’ supporters: read “Worldwide supporters of Oscar Pistorius”, “Trial by Media” and “Similar cases were treated differently”.
Matuba said: “We condemn these actions because we believe that the brunt of domestic violence cannot be reduced into emotions and sentimental beliefs of a group that sympathises with the accused”.
The ANCWL supported the Steenkamp family during the televised court appearances. The organisation’s leaders sat alongside Reeva’s parents in court throughout the trial, and called for a maximum sentence for Pistorius.
The former paralympic athlete now faces a sentence of at least 15 years, in terms of prescribed minimum sentencing legislation.
ANA