Correctional Services on Oscar Pistorius being placed on parole

3 January 2024

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) affirms that a decision taken by the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board (CSPB) on 24 November 2023 to place inmate Oscar Leonard Carl Pistorius on parole, effectively from 5 January 2024, remains valid and is to be enforced.

The above means that Pistorius shall be admitted into the system of Community Corrections and will be monitored until the expiry date of his sentence in 2029. An elevated public profile linked to Pistorius does not make him different from other inmates nor warrant inconsistent treatment. Consequently, the details in terms of transportation plans and time of release shall not be made public. Disclosing such details may result in a security threat for the inmate and other stakeholders involved. Therefore, DCS has to carefully manage that particular risk.

The general parole conditions will apply to Pistorius. For example, he will be expected to be home at particular hours of the day. He may not consume alcohol and other prohibited substances. Participation in other programmes that would have been identified by the CSPB will also be compulsory for him. Just like other parolees, Pistorius is restricted from conducting media interviews.

South Africa opted for a victim-centred criminal justice system. As a result, inmates and parolees are never paraded. Therefore, media opting to camp outside any correctional facility may not be prevented from carrying out their work, as per their line of duty, but it would not be possible for them to get shots nor moving visuals of Pistorius.

Newly placed parolees may be vulnerable and do require a support system to adjust to the normal way of living. The caregiver (family) is responsible for such support, working together with DCS monitoring officials.

Issued by Singabakho Nxumalo on behalf of Department of Correctional Services, 3 January 2024