[imagesource: AFP via Getty Images]

It’s genuinely quite tough to comprehend just how big a story the Oscar Pistorius trial was. There was a channel devoted solely to broadcasting and analysing each day’s proceedings, it dominated talk around the braai, and major media outlets from around the world carried constant updates.

Perhaps only the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard civil case earlier this year has rivalled it over the past decade or so.

Consider, then, how much of a media feeding frenzy will occur if (when?) Pistorius is released on parole.

In November last year, news broke that Pistorius was eligible for parole. As the parole process appeared to be reaching its climax, news broke last week that prison authorities are now arguing that Pistorius is actually not eligible for release. While the Department of Correctional Services had previously confirmed Pistorius’ eligibility, Atteridgeville parole authorities disagree.

Pistorius is preparing to take authorities to court over their alleged failure to grant him a hearing. He may have a strong case to argue, given that his prison social worker and psychologists support his release.

News24 reports that Clara Erenst, the social worker tasked with analysing his readiness for release, recommended he be paroled to “allow him an opportunity to deal with the pain he created to family and friends of the deceased”.

That’s Reeva Steenkamp, of course, whose story is being told in the docuseries My Name is Reeva:

Prison psychologist VK Mabunda further stated in a November 2021 report that, based on his assessment, “Mr Pistorius does not display any major unresolved criminogenic needs, rather he displays protective factors which could reduce his risk of re-offending (support from family).”

Pistorius’ unit manager, referred to as Mrs Makgatho, stated he was “ready to be re-integrated into society”.

She went on to say that he took on the responsibility of working as “a cleaner at the special care unit” and was “allocated as a tractor driver”.

Speaking to his character, she labelled him “a trustworthy individual”.

TP Hlako, Atteridgeville prison’s sports, arts, recreation, and culture coordinator also supported his release on parole:

According to Hlako, Pistorius had “always made sure that he is improving himself by reading” and had joined “the Ardent Reading Book Club, which was established to encourage others to read and improve their ability to reason and take correct decisions”.

Image: Getty Images

“I further declare that Pistorius… has donated a lot of the books that where provided by his family as per correctional services regulations to the centre. He was not self-centred…”

Along with the book donation, the former athlete donated a piano and a guitar.

The major issue with his parole, rather than being the likelihood that he may commit a further crime, boils down to when exactly his murder sentence actually came into effect.

Inmates become eligible for parole after serving half of their sentence, which lawyers for Pistorius say was reached in February last year.

The vice chairperson of the case management committee at Atteridgeville prison, Tebogo Moloto, disagrees. A spokesperson for the Department of Correctional Services said officials are “seeking a clarification on the minimum detention period”.

[source:news24]