South African Pistorius, known for his carbon prosthetics as the ‘Blade Runner’, became eligible for parole in March 2023 after serving half of a 13-year, five-month sentence for murder.
“Parole does not mean the end of the sentence,” explained the spokesperson of the Republic of South Africa’s Ministry of Corrections Singabakho Nxumalo, adding that the sentence will not expire until December 2029. “It only means that the prisoner will complete it outside the correctional facility.”
Foto: Getty Images, Getty Images
Pistori’s uncle Arnold with his wife Lois. He will live with them.
Pistorius, who is closely watched, will be able to serve his sentence in prison, but will be restricted in his freedom of movement and will have to go through various programs to prove he is ready for a blameless life.
“Blade Runner” will not be able to leave Pretoria without permission from the authorities for five years. They may not consume alcohol or other prohibited substances and may not own or handle firearms. He is prohibited from talking to the media and will also have to stay at home for part of the day, at certain times.
If he violates these or other conditions, he may be returned to prison.
He will also have to attend gender-based violence education programs and continue anger management therapy sessions.
He can go out, to church, to work
However, Pistorius will be able to leave home, go to church, to work, which he must find soon after all. Department of Corrections spokesman Manelisi Wolela clarified that he will not have to wear an electronic bracelet, according to the AP.
The former Paralympic athlete was released under South Africa’s so-called restorative justice program. The South African Department of Correctional Services (DCS) organizes it by keeping released prisoners under control and preparing various programs for them. Pistorius will thus complete the remainder of his sentence in the community corrections system. The latter is very specific in South Africa.
It was introduced in the country after the end of apartheid in the mid-1990s to deal with the crimes of the dark era of racism in a conciliatory manner. It is based in part on how indigenous cultures in South Africa dealt with crimes long before Europeans colonized South Africa. Instead of merely punishing the perpetrators, it aims to bring both parties affected by the crime together to find reconciliation. Mutual dialogue is therefore an integral part of the program.
This is precisely why Pistorius was, for example, moved at the end of 2021 to a prison closer to where the Steenkamp family lived. This was supposed to facilitate reconciliation negotiations that would allow an early release from prison. The former athlete and deceased father of the murdered Reeva, Barry Steenkamp, then actually participated in such a dialogue on June 22, 2022.
Pistorius has been assigned a monitoring officer who the former Paralympic athlete will have to keep informed of his intentions. For example, if he is looking for job opportunities or would like to change his residence.
How will he live?
He will live with his very rich uncle Arnold in Waterkloof, one of Pretoria’s most exclusive suburbs. Each morning, Pistorius will wake up in a luxury cottage on the property with stunning views of Pretoria. It will also be possible to swim in the swimming pool, which is set in the landscaped area.
The entire residence in the diplomatic enclave was given special security and roadblocks were installed in front of it. Like most houses in the area, the high walls around are topped with barbed wire and security cameras.
When entering the closed zone, which is also protected by dog patrols, drivers must scan their palms on a digital reader, only then will the automatic barrier be raised.
The three-story building was formerly the parsonage of the Dutch Reformed Church, and the church bell is still there today. Uncle Arnold Pistorius bought it for himself and his wife Lois in 1992. He is a successful property businessman himself and his Twin Towers offices are a few minutes’ drive from his luxury residence.
The affluent suburb of Waterkloof has a row of houses that resemble palaces. Pistorius will have CEOs of the largest South African companies and diplomats from around the world as his neighbors. The Embassy of Trinidad and Tobago and several top schools and churches are nearby.
What will he do?
Pistorius is said to have no plans for the immediate future – apart from fulfilling the terms of his parole, which includes getting a job. The family expressed only the general belief that he will continue to serve society in the most meaningful way he can, just as he did when he was an athlete. His disability is said to have driven him to help others whenever and wherever he could.
Even before his release, there was widespread discussion about whether he could continue his career as a Paralympic athlete. Correctional Services spokesman Manelisi Wolela has not previously ruled out allowing him to return to training. But the eventual renewal of a Paralympic career has several snags.
Return to sports?
The question is primarily Pistori’s condition. The first news from the prison indicated that the 37-year-old Pistorius hardly resembles the athlete he was when he started serving his sentence. In prison, he grew a beard, gained weight and started smoking.
However, new photos from the day he was released do not show dramatic changes in Pistori’s appearance.
If things weren’t so bad with his condition, the necessary permits and meeting the qualification limits could be a problem. He would certainly need a special dispensation from the courts to start racing as a sprinter, especially if it involved international travel, explained Department of Corrections spokesman Singabakho Nxumalo.
If he wanted to be able to take part in the Paralympics in Paris this year, for example, it doesn’t seem like it could be realistic. At the next Paralympics, he will be over 40 years old. Therefore, many believe that his sports career is over.
Sports achievements of Oscar Pistorius
Pistorius first rose to fame in the early 2000s when, as a 17-year-old, he won gold in the T44 200m at the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games.
For the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he focused on running against healthy athletes, but was banned from competition by the IAAF. The ban was eventually overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but Pistorius did not qualify for the Olympics when he fell 0.70s short of the qualifying limit for the 400 m. However, he was undeterred and took home gold medals in the 100, 200 and 400 m in the T44 category at the subsequent Paralympics.
He again bid to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics. This time he was successful, reaching the semi-finals of the 400 m and competing for the South African Republic in the 4×400 m relay. At the subsequent Paralympics, he won three more Paralympic medals.
Due to the ban on communication with the media until the end of 2029, Pistorius cannot even consider a career as a sports commentator. And he won’t answer any questions about his future either.
Still, observers believe that when he is able to speak to journalists, he will eventually find his platform thanks to his position as a global celebrity.
Local media also speculate that he could become some kind of Christian pastor. Indeed, his father said several years ago that Pistorius had taken an active role in the Christian community in prison.
