Oscar Pistorius looks unlikely to be released from prison on Friday as had been expected, after South Africa's justice minister ordered a review of his pending parole.
Pistorius was sentenced to five years in jail for culpable homicide after he shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp through a toilet door on Valentine's Day in 2013.
Having served exactly ten months in prison – the minimum period stipulated by South African law – Pistorius was due to be transferred to house arrest tomorrow, following a recommendation from a parole board in June.
Pistorius was sentenced to five years in jail for culpable homicide after he shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp through a toilet door on Valentine's Day in 2013.
Having served exactly ten months in prison – the minimum period stipulated by South African law – Pistorius was due to be transferred to house arrest tomorrow, following a recommendation from a parole board in June.
However, Justice and Correctional Services Minister Michael Masutha has stepped in, suggesting that the parole board's decision was premature.
Masutha said that, according to his interpretation of the law, Pistorius should not have been considered for parole until after the ten-month period was completed.
In addition, Masutha is also considering a petition by the Progressive Women’s Movement of South Africa (PWMSA) opposing the Blade Runner’s “release”. Pistorius was due to be put under correctional supervision after serving 10 months behind bars for killing his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day in 2013.
In the petition addressed to Masutha, PWMSA said: “This decision of the Parole Board is outrageous and an affront to the aim of Women’s Month”.
Pistorius was convicted of culpable homicide by Judge Thokozile Masipa and was supposed to serve the rest of his five-year sentence at his uncle’s suburban home in Pretoria East. He was scheduled to leave Kgosi Mampuru prison in Pretoria tomorrow.
But that has all changed. Masutha yesterday announced that Pistorius’ release would be put on hold.
“The decision to release him on August 21, 2015 was made prematurely on June 5, 2015 when the offender was not eligible to be considered at all … One sixth of a five-years’ sentence is 10 months and at the time the decision was made Mr Pistorius had served only over six months of his sentence,” said the Department of Justice and Correctional Services in a statement yesterday.
Masutha said that, according to his interpretation of the law, Pistorius should not have been considered for parole until after the ten-month period was completed.
In addition, Masutha is also considering a petition by the Progressive Women’s Movement of South Africa (PWMSA) opposing the Blade Runner’s “release”. Pistorius was due to be put under correctional supervision after serving 10 months behind bars for killing his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day in 2013.
In the petition addressed to Masutha, PWMSA said: “This decision of the Parole Board is outrageous and an affront to the aim of Women’s Month”.
Pistorius was convicted of culpable homicide by Judge Thokozile Masipa and was supposed to serve the rest of his five-year sentence at his uncle’s suburban home in Pretoria East. He was scheduled to leave Kgosi Mampuru prison in Pretoria tomorrow.
But that has all changed. Masutha yesterday announced that Pistorius’ release would be put on hold.
“The decision to release him on August 21, 2015 was made prematurely on June 5, 2015 when the offender was not eligible to be considered at all … One sixth of a five-years’ sentence is 10 months and at the time the decision was made Mr Pistorius had served only over six months of his sentence,” said the Department of Justice and Correctional Services in a statement yesterday.
By: Farai Diza
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