South African justice minister blocks Pistorius parole

Michael Masutha said he had been prompted to look at the decision to release Pistorius to house arrest, just 10 months into his five-year sentence for shooting Steenkamp dead after mistaking her for a burglar, following an appeal from womens’ groups.

It was unclear when the board would be able to meet again, justice department spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga said, but it was unlikely a new decision could be made by Friday’s initially planned release date.

South Africa’s justice ministry has suspended the decision to release Oscar Pistorius from prison tomorrow.

On October 21 this past year, Pistorius was sentenced by the High-Court in Pretoria to five decades in prison for eliminating his partner Reeva Steenkamp.

The family of Steenkamp, who would have turned 32 yesterday, are “celebrating her life, what she stood for and the joy she brought into so many lives”, according to a statement e-mailed by their attorney, Tania Koen.

He has requested the Correctional Supervision and Parole Review Board to review the decision.

Hence the legal mechanism to allow those offenders whose parole board assessments show that they possess a record of good behaviour to be sent home early, to serve the remainder of their sentences at home.

Judge Thokozile Masipa said during sentencing that the state had failed to convince her of Pistorius’s intent to kill when he fired.

Masutha stated the parole panel might just choose whether release a Pistorius after he’d offered one sixth, or 10 weeks, of his phrase, which may be on Friday.

Political pressure from the Progressive Women’s Movement of South Africa (PWMSA), a women’s rights advocacy group. which includes the African National Congress Women’s League – part of the governing party – seems to have made the difference.

Pistorius’ family accepted the decision but was also considering their options, spokeswoman Anneliese Burgess told the AP.

Pistorius has admitted killing Steenkamp, 29, by firing four shots into the locked door of a toilet cubicle in what he said was the mistaken belief that an intruder was hiding behind it.

The prosecution has appealed the verdict and is seeking a murder conviction, saying Pistorius deliberately killed Steenkamp after an argument. His defence team now has a month to file its response.

As previously reported by the Inquistir, Oscar Pistorius will be released on Friday, not even serving a year for Reeva Steenkamp’s death.