Oscar Pistorius’ reputation management company has confirmed he will be holding his own private memorial service for his slain girlfriend tonight. “He wants it to be private” – insisted his reputation management company.

This comes days after Reeva Steenkamp’s Johannesburg guardian, Cecil Myers, added to Oscar Pistorius’ already tarnished public image.

A company by the name of Vuma Reputation Management, who handle PR for the likes of Vodacom, are looking after Oscar Pistorius’ PR interests.

According to News24:

Murder-accused paralympian Oscar Pistorius will hold a private memorial service for his slain girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Tuesday evening, his reputation management company said.

“Oscar Pistorius will hold a private memorial service for Reeva Steenkamp at the house of his uncle, Arnold Pistorius, tonight [Tuesday night],” Vuma Reputation Management said in a statement.

“Oscar specifically requested the memorial service as he continues to grieve and remains in deep mourning for the loss of his partner Reeva.”

It asked the media to respect Pistorius’s privacy.

“Since it is such a sensitive issue, Oscar has asked for a private service with people who share his loss, including his family members who knew and loved Reeva as one of their own.

[more here]

The comments at the bottom of that news24 article raise some interesting topics for debate. One person asked why he is using a reputation management company to announce something that is meant to be a private affair. One R Sadan said, “If you really wanted it to be private you should have kept it quiet.”

Another, one B Brits said, “Pr management to the extreme.. “we ask the media to respect their privacy” but we announce what he’s doing to the media. Its insulting.. pathetic..”

Here is some more information on Vuma Reputation Management, who handle the images of not only private, but also corporate clients. From their website:

“A good reputation is built on reliability, trust and transparency, delivering what you promise, saying what you mean and doing what is asked of you, it’s good corporate governance,” says Janine Hills , CEO of Vuma Corporate Reputation Management.

This latest announcement comes just a couple of days after the latest quotes connected to the case – this time from Cecil Myers, Reeva’s ‘Johannesburg dad’ who told City Press:

“Whatever happens, whether he goes to jail or not . . . he can rot in hell. His conscience will get the better of him.”

Is he convinced Oscar is guilty of murder?

“She was my little girl, and he shot her four times from behind a closed door. One shot may have been a mistake – but four times?”

[more here]

Vuma Reputation Management certainly do have their work cut out.