Oscar Pistorius attends grandfather’s memorial service
Convicted murderer Oscar
Pistorius was granted compassionate leave by the Department of Correctional Services to
attend his grandfather’s memorial service in Centurion on Tuesday.
The former Paralympian was escorted by two correctional services officers
He has since returned to prison.
Pistorius is servicing a prison sentence of 13 years for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
His 101-year-old grandfather, Hendrik Pistorius, died in October and had a successful agricultural limestone supply company during his working life.
Pistorius's leave comes weeks after two sisters’ application to bury their kids was denied.
The sisters were arrested child neglect after their four children died in a fire while they were out partying at a local tavern.
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Mbalenhle Fihlani, 5, Nhlanhla Ngubeni, 7, Sandile Ngubeni, 4, and Amukelani Ngubeni, 2, died after a fire thought to be caused by a heater broke out in their two-roomed home in northern Johannesburg.
The department’s Singabakho Nxumalo says there are different processes convicted inmates undergo to have the appeal granted.
“We give the compassion when it concerns a direct family member, could be a child, mother, father, spuse, grandfather and grandmother and then there's a criteria that we use.”
Nxumalo says the criteria includes the inmate being low risk, demonstrate good behaviour and must be actively involved in rehabilitation programmes.
"If the head of centre is satisfied with the profile of the inmate and there's less risk in terms of that in mate escaping or causing harm to other people out there then application will be granted," he explains.
He reiterates that this particular criterion is for convicted inmates and doesn't apply to those awaiting trial