The Paralympic sprint champion, jailed for murder after shooting his girlfriend Reeva, is on parole and understood to be staying at his uncle’s home in Pretoria, South Africa.
Pistorius – dubbed the Blade Runner due to his prosthetic limbs – left Atteridgeville Correctional Centre having served over half of his 13 years and five-month sentence.
Reeva’s mother June Steenkamp said: “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.”
Pistorius, 37, shot model and paralegal Reeva, through his bathroom door on Valentine’s Day in 2013. He claimed he thought Reeva, 29, was an intruder. Pistorius was jailed in October 2014 for five years for manslaughter.
However, this was changed to murder and six years in prison after an appeal in 2015. A second appeal in 2017 saw his sentence increased to more than 13 years.
In prison, he is understood to have driven a tractor, cleaned cells and worked in the library. He met Reeva’s father Barry Steenkamp in 2022 as part of a victim-offender dialogue he had to perform to be considered for parole.
Mr Steenkamp, who died last year, cut the meeting short, saying he believed Pistorius was lying about the killing and that he should stay in prison for the rest of his life.
Mrs Steenkamp said: “Almost 11 years later, the pain is still raw and real. My dear late husband Barry and I have never been able to come ¬¬to terms with Reeva’s death or the way she died.
“With the release of Oscar Pistorius on parole, my only desire is I will be allowed to live my last years in peace with my focus remaining on the Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation.”
As part of his parole terms, Pistorius must stay at home during certain hours and is banned from drinking alcohol and ¬speaking to the media.
Mrs Steenkamp said she believed in the South African legal system and was comforted by the parole condition that Pistorius must have therapy for gender-based violence and anger.
Pistorius was one of the biggest stars in athletics, becoming the first double amputee to race in the Olympics. He won six Paralympic gold medals.
Campaign group Women for Change said: “We believe parole for someone convicted of killing another person sends a concerning message about accountability and justice.”
