ANCWL WELCOMES DECISION TO REFER PISTORIUS DECISION FOR REVIEW

19 August 2015

The African National Congress Women's League welcomes the decision by the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Comrade Michael Masutha, to refer the decision to place convicted murderer, Oscar Pistorius, under correctional supervision to the Correctional Supervision and Parole Review Board. The consequence of the Minister's action is that the decision to release Oscar Pistorius and place him under correctional is suspended until the matter is heard by the Review Board.

The ANC Women's League remains convinced that Judge Masipa handed down an erroneous judgment and an extremely lenient sentence to Pistorius; setting a bad precedence in cases involving gender based violence especially in instances where women die at the hands of their partners. It is our wish that Pistorius remains in custody until November when the Supreme Court of Appeal will hear the appeal brought by the NPA against the judgment and the sentence.

The murder of Reeva Steenkamp at the hands of Oscar Pistorius is a sore reminder of brutality meted out to and the vulnerability of many women in country. We shall forever continue to call for the harshest possible sentences against those who perpetrate such violence against the vulnerability in our society.

Statement issued by Khusela Sangoni, African National Congress Women's League, August 19 2015