Johannesburg - In a short interview with Carte Blanche’s Derek Watts on Sunday night, Oscar Pistorius’s uncle, Arnold Pistorius, gave some insight into what the athlete has gone through since the fateful incident on February 14.
Oscar killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, allegedly believing she was an intruder in his house. His uncle said that although it had been three months since the tragedy, Oscar was still battling. “We are preparing him for, you know, that future,” he said.
Oscar is living with his sister at the moment and going for counselling. He also goes to gym twice a day to get his “mind right”.
“Short answer is we are working on it… but he will never be the same,” said Pistorius.
When Watts asked about the media reports about Oscar’s lack of grief, Pistorius said it was a difficult thing to talk about and that he did cry on occasion. He also said Oscar read scriptures and prayed every morning. He still had pictures of Steenkamp on the walls.
Pistorius said it was important for the public to understand that his nephew’s action was to protect in his most vulnerable state - without his prosthesis in bed.
“And now you can imagine the person you love the most and you’re the instrument of her death,” he said.
Oscar saw his pastor once a week and depended heavily on his family’s support, which was like “a big bulldozer behind him”.
Pistorius said Oscar had brought Steenkamp to their home twice, and what he saw was a likable Afrikaans-speaking girl who was beautiful, humble and comfortable. She was the only girl he brought home to the family.
Oscar had no travel plans but would probably return to being an athlete.
“God told me I have a purpose,” is what he told his uncle.
Pistorius said the family were glad to be in a position to assist Oscar.
“I’ve got no doubt in my mind that he is not a murderer,” he said.
The Star