Reeva Steenkamp's mum emotional as she says husband 'died of a broken heart'

10 January 2024 , 08:49

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Reeva Steenkamp's mum emotional as she says husband 'died of a broken heart'

Reeva Steenkam p's mother, June, has broken her silence after Oscar Pistorius was released from prison on parole earlier this year having served nearly nine years of a murder sentence for the 2013 killing of his girlfriend Reeva.

The South African double-amputee Olympic runner, 37, will have to live under strict conditions until his full sentence of 13 years and five months expires on December 5, 2029. Serious offenders in South Africa are eligible for parole after serving at least half their sentence.

Pistorius shot 29-year-old Reeva four times, through a locked bathroom door with the 9mm pistol he kept under his bed. In addition to her modelling career, Steenkamp was a reality TV star with a law degree who had become an activist against the scourge of violence against women in South Africa — a tragic irony given how she died. She and Pistorius had only been dating for a few months.

Reeva Steenkamp's mother, June, has broken her silence after Oscar Pistorius was released from prison on parole earlier this year (ITV)

Appearing on Wednesday's Good Morning Britain, Steenkamp's mother, June, appeared on the ITV show in her first UK TV interview, saying she misses her daughter every day and that she thinks her husband, Barry, died of a broken heart. Barry tragically passed away in September last year, aged 80.

June said: "I think my husband died of a broken heart. He was very strange when he died, he just went to bed early and he just passed away in his sleep. But he could not live without our daughter. She was the most wonderful person, the most loving, caring, she loved us and cared for us. So it doesn't matter he's [Pistorius] on parole because it's inevitable."

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Talking about Pistorius' release, she said: "I say with him coming out, it's he has to come out. It's inevitable. And I realised that we cannot keep him inside, he's on parole now and it's not going to make any difference to my life. He's done what he's done already and I can't do anything about that.

"I've lost the most beautiful, wonderful child and now I've been without her for so many years. I miss her every day." She added: "I don't believe he told the truth at all and he's never shown any remorse. I have to accept that for the law to take its course."

Talking about her future after losing both her daughter and husband, she said: "I believe in God and I like to think I'm a Christian. I try to be a good person, I love people and I love everybody. I think God has helped me, it saved my life. I have lots of friends who stood by me. I'm 77 now and I am going to find a job to keep me busy."

Oscar Pistorius with his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp he killed (AFP via Getty Images)

Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp in 2012 (Getty Images)

It comes as Steenkamp's mother, June, said in a statement when Pistorius was released she had accepted his parole as part of South African law, adding: "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.

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

Pistorius will live under strict conditions until the remainder of his sentence expires in December 2029, the Department of Corrections said. It emphasised that the multiple Paralympic champion’s release — like every other offender on parole — does not mean that he has served his time.

Some of Pistorius' parole conditions include restrictions on when he is allowed to leave his home, a ban on consuming alcohol and orders that he must attend programmes on anger management and on violence against women. He will have to perform community service.

Pistorius will also have to regularly meet with parole officials at his home and at correctional services offices, and will be subjected to unannounced visits by authorities. He is not allowed to leave the Waterkloof district without permission and is banned from speaking to the media until the end of his sentence. He could be sent back to jail if he is in breach of any of his parole conditions.

Olivia Wheeler