Oscar Pistorius Walks Free, But Where is Reeva’s Justice?
Let’s not sugarcoat this, Oscar Pistorius is a convicted murderer. He shot and killed Reeva Steenkamp someone he claimed to love on Valentine’s Day in 2013. Now, after serving just over half of his sentence, he’s out on parole, strolling around South Africa and making headlines for finding a new girlfriend. Meanwhile, Reeva’s voice remains forever silent.
The story of Oscar Pistorius is one we all know, but it bears repeating because the way it’s unfolding now feels like a slap in the face. The facts are clear. Pistorius fired four shots through a locked bathroom door, killing Reeva. He claimed it was a tragic mistake, that he thought she was an intruder. But even if you buy his version of events (and many don’t), who fires blindly into a closed space without thinking about the consequences?
The courts eventually agreed and upgraded his conviction from culpable homicide to murder. Yet, here we are, barely a decade later and he’s out, building a new life, while Reeva’s family is left to carry their grief forever.
South Africa’s justice system has been under scrutiny for years and this case is one of its most glaring failures. Pistorius’ initial sentence for culpable homicide was five years, a punishment so light it bordered on insulting.
Even after his conviction was upgraded to murder and his sentence extended to 13 years and five months, the wheels of justice kept spinning in his favor. Early release, parole hearings, appeals—it felt like the system was bending over backward to give him another chance. And now, it’s granted him one.
We all knew this day was coming but it’s a good 5 years and 6 months of his life back from an already lenient sentence.
For most convicted murderers, a life sentence means exactly that — life. They spend decades, if not their entire existence, behind bars, paying for the irreversible loss they caused. But if you have the right connections and a team of clever lawyers, “life” suddenly doesn’t seem so permanent. Instead of fading into obscurity behind prison walls, you serve a fraction of your sentence and walk out to rebuild your life like it was all just a bad chapter. It’s a luxury few can afford and it makes a mockery of the justice system, where punishment hinges not on the gravity of the crime, but on how well you can game the system.
Let’s be clear: parole isn’t about fairness. It’s about legal technicalities. Pistorius served the minimum time required to apply for parole and the law allowed it. But legal doesn’t always mean just. How does someone like Pistorius walk free while Reeva’s family serves a life sentence of their own? They’ve fought for years, not for revenge but for accountability and even that seems like too much to ask.
Oscar Pistorius’ legal journey reveals how adept legal maneuvering can exploit technicalities to reduce prison time, even for murder. Convicted of culpable homicide in 2014 and sentenced to five years, he became eligible for parole after just ten months under South African law. His conviction was later upgraded to murder, with a revised sentence of six years deemed too lenient and extended to 13 years in 2017. Despite this, Pistorius secured parole in January 2024 after serving half his sentence, leveraging appeals and parole regulations. His case highlights how access to resources can skew justice, raising concerns about fairness and equality before the law.
On Good Behaviour
Oscar Pistorius’ time behind bars wasn’t without incident. In December 2017, he was reportedly involved in a prison altercation, sustaining minor injuries. The scuffle was allegedly over a disagreement about phone usage.
Additionally, during his incarceration, Pistorius was housed in the hospital wing of the Kgosi Mampuru II prison, a section known for its enhanced security and better conditions compared to the general prison population. While in prison, Pistorius worked various jobs, including driving a tractor and cleaning cells, and received positive reports from psychologists and social workers.
This arrangement sparked debate, with some arguing he received preferential treatment due to his high-profile status. In November 2016, Pistorius was transferred to Atteridgeville Correctional Centre, which was specifically equipped for disabled inmates. This included facilities like bathtubs in cells etc etc, so it’s not like he was serving hard time with the cappos of the 28’s.
The Privilege of Redemption
Pistorius has been painted as a man trying to rebuild his life. We’ve seen the photos of him cleaning church floors and heard the stories about his “model behavior” in prison. Now, he’s reportedly in a new relationship, moving on while his past fades into the background.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth: not everyone gets the chance to rebuild. Pistorius has had privileges most South Africans can only dream of a high-profile legal defense, access to rehabilitation programs and now, a second chance at life. Reeva, a young woman with dreams and a future, doesn’t get that chance. Her family doesn’t get to move on. They live with the reality of her violent death every single day.
Adding insult to injury, the media has been complicit in softening Pistorius’ image. Reports about his new romance read like fluff pieces, skirting around the fact that he is a convicted murderer. They frame his release as a “new chapter” while glossing over the tragedy that put him behind bars in the first place. Where’s the outrage? Where’s the accountability?
By humanizing Pistorius without acknowledging the weight of his crime, these stories risk rewriting history. Reeva becomes a footnote, while Pistorius gets the spotlight. It’s not just unfair it’s dangerous. It sends a message that even the most heinous acts can be overshadowed by a redemption arc if you play your cards right.
Public Opinion vs. the Courts
Oscar Pistorius may have been convicted of murder, but for many South Africans, the official verdict doesn’t tell the full story. Public opinion has long leaned toward the belief that what happened on Valentine’s Day in 2013 was not a tragic accident but a deliberate act of rage. Lest we forget, there was witness testimony about an argument before the shooting, coupled with Pistorius’ history of controlling behaviors, violent outbursts, tempers etc January 2013, just weeks before her death, Pistorius discharged a firearm in a crowded Johannesburg restaurant.
The locked bathroom door, Pistorius firing four shots through it with no warning shot or direct threat or the thousands of other things our average citizens of the realm would, could or should do in that scenario.
These inconsistencies leave many convinced he exploited his fame and resources to manipulate the system. For a large segment of the public, this case has come to symbolize a failure of accountability, with Reeva seen as a victim of both domestic violence and an inequitable justice system. Pistorius’ parole, for many, feels less like rehabilitation and more like proof that he got away with murder.
Until his sentence expires in 2029, Oscar Pistorius will live under strict parole conditions, including curfews, a ban on alcohol, mandatory therapy for gender-based violence and anger issues, and a prohibition on speaking to the media. He is believed to be living with his uncle in Pretoria.
Reeva Deserves Better
This isn’t just about one man or one case. It’s about a justice system that too often fails victims, especially women. South Africa has one of the highest rates of gender-based violence in the world. When someone like Pistorius is allowed to walk free and re-enter society as though his crime was a mere misstep, it reinforces a culture where women’s lives are treated as expendable.
Reeva’s life mattered. She was more than a model, more than Pistorius’ girlfriend. She was a daughter, a friend, a person with her own dreams and ambitions. Her death should have been a turning point, a moment that forced us to reckon with the way violence against women is handled in this country. Instead, it feels like her story is being swept under the rug, overshadowed by Pistorius’ so-called “comeback.”
Oscar Pistorius may be free, but there’s no justice in his freedom. Reeva Steenkamp didn’t get to walk out of that bathroom alive. Her family doesn’t get to pick up the pieces and move on without her. And South Africa doesn’t get to pretend that letting Pistorius rebuild his life is anything less than a monumental failure of our justice system.
The world watched as this story unfolded and it’s watching now. What message are we sending when a convicted murderer becomes a media darling, while his victim’s memory fades into the background? If Reeva’s life and death taught us anything, it’s that we can’t afford to look away not now, not ever.
The rest of Oscar’s friends and family may have moved on, but a huge part of South Africa hasn’t and we likely never will. This isn’t about grudges; it’s about justice and it’s glaringly obvious that Oscar Pistorius hasn’t truly paid for what he did. While Reeva’s family lives with an unfillable void, he’s out there dating, rebuilding his life and walking free. For many of us, he didn’t serve his time; he worked the system and got away with murder. It’s not just upsetting—it’s infuriating.
Oscar, from the millions of us who are tired of seeing injustice dressed up as redemption: go fuck yourself. The internet never forgets, never forgives. You took a life, shattered a family and somehow managed to spin it into a “comeback story” bro I get this whole thng must have been tough for you, ag shame. Reeva doesn’t get any second chances, so why the hell should you?
Let’s not sugarcoat this, Oscar Pistorius is a convicted murderer. He shot and killed Reeva Steenkamp someone he claimed to love on Valentine’s Day in 2013. Now, after serving just over half of his sentence, he’s out on parole, strolling around South Africa and making headlines for finding a new girlfriend. Meanwhile, Reeva’s voice remains…