JOHANNESBURG – The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) in South Africa has confirmed the parole placement of Oscar Pistorius, the former Paralympian, with the parole set to commence on January 5, 2024.
According to South African Government News Agency, the decision for parole was made by the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board (CSPB), which reviewed Pistorius’s profile and additional materials submitted for parole consideration. The CSPB classified Pistorius as a first-time offender with a positive support system, leading to the decision that aligns with Section 73 of the Correctional Services Act.
Pistorius was initially convicted of culpable homicide in 2014 for the death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentine’s Day in 2013. The case underwent several appeals, culminating in a revised sentence of 13 years and five months in 2017 by the Supreme Court of Appeal. This followed the State’s successful application to have his original six-year prison term increased.
Pistorius claimed he fired four shots through a bathroom door under the belief that there was an intruder in his home.
The parole placement forms part of a comprehensive rehabilitation program designed to correct offending behavior. It may include the continuation of programs aimed at reintegration into society under the system of community corrections. As part of his parole conditions, Pistorius will be under supervision until his sentence expires, ensuring compliance with the set terms.