Oscar Pistorius at home after parole release

"The Department of Correctional Services is able to confirm that Oscar Pistorius is a parolee, effectively from 5 January 2024," said Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo.

Pistorius was released to his family on Friday morning.

This after a parole board reviewed whether Pistorius, 37, was fit for social reintegration and decided at the end of November to allow him out of prison early on January 5.

As part of his parole, until the end of his sentence in 2029, Pistorius must undergo therapy for anger and gender-based violence issues.

Pistorius killed Steenkamp, a model, in the early hours of Valentine's Day 2013, firing four times through the bathroom door of his ultra-secure Pretoria house.

Known worldwide as the "Blade Runner" for his carbon-fibre prosthetics, he was found guilty of murder and given a 13-year jail sentence in 2017 after a lengthy trial and several appeals.

He had pleaded not guilty and denied killing Steenkamp in a rage, saying he mistook her for a burglar.

June Steenkamp had previously said she did not believe the ex-athlete was rehabilitated and did not think he had told the truth about what happened.

But, on Friday morning, Steenkamp released a statement prior to Pistorius’ release, stating that she was “at peace”.

"Has there been justice for Reeva? Has Oscar served enough time? There can never be justice if your loved one is never coming back, and no amount of time served will bring Reeva back. We, who remain behind, are the ones serving a life sentence," she said in the statement.

"With the release of Oscar Pistorius on parole, my only desire is to be allowed to live my last years in peace with my focus remaining on the Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation, to continue Reeva’s legacy."

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