The recent release on parole of former Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius has reignited the debate surrounding the early release of inmates in South Africa. Pistorius was released after serving half of his sentence for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in 2013.
This case has brought to light the issue of femicide and violence against women in South Africa, a country plagued by alarming rates of gender-based violence. According to a study conducted by the University of the Free State, in 2020, a woman died at the hands of her intimate partner on average every eight hours in South Africa.
Additionally, the United Nations has ranked South Africa among the five countries with the highest rates of the murder of women. These shocking statistics have led campaigners to question the country’s normal rules around early release and argue for exceptions for perpetrators of gender-based violence.
Michael van Niekerk, the founder of Keep the Energy, an organization that spreads awareness about violence against women, believes that those responsible for gender-based violence and murder should not be granted parole.
He expresses his frustration, stating that he feels Pistorius’ release is a “kick to the gut.” Van Niekerk has witnessed men being released and committing the same crimes repeatedly, further fueling his opposition to parole for such offenders.
However, Chrispin Phiri, spokesperson for the justice ministry, clarifies that parole does not equate to absolute freedom. The purpose of parole is to rehabilitate offenders and guide them back into society.
Phiri emphasizes that the argument against parole stems from a misunderstanding that it signifies complete freedom, which is not the case. In Pistorius’ case, he will be closely monitored by authorities for five years until his sentence expires in 2029.
He will have to abide by certain conditions, including being confined to his home for specific hours, abstaining from alcohol, and attending therapy sessions on gender-based violence. While these measures provide some reassurance to the mother of the victim, June Steenkamp, they do not satisfy everyone.
Mbali Pfeiffer Shongwe, a survivor of gender-based violence and activist, believes that anyone convicted of serious crimes such as murder, rape, serious assault, theft, kidnapping, and public violence like Oscar Pistorius should not be granted parole.
She argues that a full sentence should be served as the most basic form of respect for the victims. Despite the differing opinions, some individuals support Pistorius’ early release but choose to remain anonymous due to potential backlash.
One woman, in her mid-twenties, believes that Oscar Pistorius has paid his penance and has been rehabilitated. She asserts that he is not a threat to society and highlights the challenges he will face, regardless of his incarceration status, due to his notoriety.
However, for many, the issue extends beyond Pistorius’ case. Palesa Muano Ramurunzi, a law graduate from the University of Cape Town, expresses her frustration with the level of violence faced by women in South Africa.
She believes that barring parole for those convicted of gender-based violence is not meant to undermine other forms of violence but to address an urgent crisis. Ramurunzi emphasizes the palpable sense of entitlement that men often harbor towards women’s bodies, highlighting the devastating thread of fear that connects many women in South Africa.
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