Oscar Pistorius, once known for his charming personality, handsome good looks and toned physique, is now said to be a “shadow” of his former self. This follows his release on parole in January after serving half of his sentence for the 2013 murder of Reeva Steenkamp.
Pistorius currently lives at his uncle Arnold Pistorius' Waterkloof estate in Pretoria.
He volunteers at the local Dutch Reformed Church, according to parole documents.
Oscar Pistorius' appearance shocks fans
by mail online, Oscar Pistorius gave up his high-flying life as a sports star to live a quiet life away from the spotlight.
He cites his volunteer work at NG Kerk Waterkloof, a Dutch Reformed church, while on parole, where he performs “light maintenance and administrative work.”
The newspaper previously reported that Oscar was tasked with sweeping the church floors and helping worshipers park their cars during busy Sunday morning services.
Apart from his new role, his appearance is also said to be “unrecognizable”.
Church member Ida Govender said: new york post: “I almost didn't recognize him. His hair is longer and he has a beard. He's not as skinny as I expected. You'd never realize he was an athlete.” Deaf. He’s just not the same.”
Another church member claimed Mr Pistorius had kept quiet about him. They said: “He's not friendly, he's not sociable. I don't know if I've ever even seen him smile. He's just a shadow of his former self.”
After his release on January 5th, email online Pistorius was “a chain smoker, fat and gray,” he claimed.
Condition of parole: freedom at a price
Under SA law, all offenders granted parole must comply with conditions set by the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board (CSPB).
Common parole conditions include:
- Have a fixed address and have reported it to your parole officer or police station
- Travel is restricted and curfews are in place.
- Subject to random drug and alcohol tests
- Prohibition of Possession of Dangerous Weapons
- Re-offending in any form is prohibited.
Additionally, Oscar Pistorius is prohibited from giving media interviews or posting on social media. He may also not contact Reeva Steenkamp's family.
What if he violates parole?
The CSPB says if an offender breaks the rules, their parole will likely be revoked.
The offender will then be returned to prison to continue his sentence inside the prison. If an offender commits a crime while on parole, they will be charged and the new crime will be listed at the bottom of their record.