Reeva Steenkamp's family relieved by delayed release of Oscar Pistorius

On the birthday of Reeva Steenkamp, who was killed by Paralympian Oscar Pistorius, the news of delayed release of the convict was nothing less than a gift for her parents.Justice Minister Michael Masutha put down his verdict on Pistorius on Wednesday, saying that the announcement of his release on Friday was a premature decision.

Steenkamp’s parents Barry and June, along with other relatives, paid tribute to their daughter on Wednesday, her 32 nd birthday. They visited her favourite childhood place and shed flowers across the ocean on the same day. All of them remembered the late model and held a quiet memorial at the Summerstrand beach, the place where Steenkamp’s ashes were scattered after her funeral.

Prior to the occasion, family lawyer Tania Koen told Pretoria News that only family and close friends will be there to honour her. “The family are still battling to come to terms with Reeva’s death as it is still very traumatic for them. They have to live every day of their life with knowledge that she is no longer here. Her birthday is an especially emotional time for them,” she said .

Steenkamps specified that they don’t want to seek revenge on their daughter’s death as it would not give them Reeva back. However, the one who was found guilty must be punished for his actions.

Olympian Pistorius, Steenkamp’s boyfriend, confessed to killing her by firing four shots through a locked bathroom door. He claimed that he confused her with an intruder and killed her by mistake.

Masutha, in a statement, said that the verdict given in June for releasing Pistorius when he hardly completed 10 months of imprisonment seemed premature. “It is therefore clear that there is no legal basis upon which such a decision was made ... one sixth of a five years sentence is 10 months and at the time the decision was made Mr Pistorius had served only over six months of his sentence,” Masutha stated .

The Progressive Women’s Movement of South Africa opposed the earlier decision of releasing the convict on Friday and sent the minister a petition that claimed violation of rules. The minister said that the parole board would look into the matter to decide whether the gold medallist would be released. The announcement that Pistorius would only serve 10 months of his sentence led to an international outcry among the public.

Stevecamp’s parents wrote a letter to the parole board in June depicting their dissatisfaction on the release of Pistorius so early. In the letter, they said that ten months was “simply not enough” for taking someone’s life.

Contact the writer at feedback@ibtimes.com.au, or let us know what you think below.