Paralympic sprinter Oscar "the blade runner" Pistorius is now a free man. This is after the Parole Board approved his release. However, he will spend yet another Christmas in prison waiting for his release in January 2024, nearly 11 years after he murdered his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day. The Correctional Supervision and Parole Board (CSPB) for Kgosi Mampuru Management said Pistorius will be released from the correctional centre, where he is held until 5 January next year.

The parole will last until 5 December 2029 and he will be subjected to conditions until his sentence expires. Pistorius' parole conditions state that he will be under correctional supervision and will have to sign up for therapy to deal with his anger issues. The Department of Correctional Services said, "The board considered Pistorius' profile and other material submitted for the purposes of parole consideration. Classified as a first-time offender with a positive support system, Oscar Pistorius' parole placement is in line with Section 73 of the Correctional Services Act. Parole placement forms part of the total rehabilitation programme in correcting offending behaviour and may include the continuation of programmes aimed at reintegration whilst in the system of community corrections." The department added that Pistorius will complete the remainder of the sentence in the system of community corrections and will be subjected to supervision in compliance with parole conditions until his sentence expires.

Reeva mother, June Steenkamp, said she does not believe that he has been rehabilitated and added that if this is the case, she fears for the safety of women when he gets released. Steenkamp did not attend the parole hearing because she couldn't face the Paralympian, who was convicted of her daughter's murder. This was revealed in a victim impact statement that was read out before the Parole Board, at a correctional centre outside Pretoria. In her victim impact statement that was read out by a legal representative at the hearing, she said: "I am not attending Pistorius parole hearing as I simply cannot muster the energy to face him again at this stage. Barry's demise has opened wounds caused by Reeva's death. I had forgiven Oscar a long time ago as I instantly knew that I would not survive if I were to cling on to my anger," read the statement. She said Reeva had a bright future and had been advocating for those who had been victims of domestic abuse and rape. "In the 29 years that Reeva lived, she developed into a well-rounded young lady, completed her law degree and started a successful modelling career. She used her platform as a model to become a voice for victims of abuse. It has taken me the best part of 10 years to come to realise that Reeva has appeared to have fulfilled her destiny during her life and more abundantly so in her tragic death. Reeva's name and her demise continue to raise awareness around gender-based violence around the world," Steenkamp said, adding that a massive hole was left in their future as Reeva did not fulfil her role of getting married and becoming a mother as she wished.

Steenkamp's statement also spoke about her husband, Barry's recent death. "I have no doubt that Barry died of a broken heart. No parent should have to bury a child and most certainly not in the circumstances that prevailed in the demise of Reeva," Steenkamp added that she still does not believe Pistorius' version that he shot her daughter believing she was an intruder because Reeva screamed for dear life behind that bathroom door.