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World News

South African pastor criticises release of athlete Oscar Pistorius to house arrest

by Hannah Tooley

Pistorius is now under house arrest following his five year sentence for the killing of his then girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013.

Under South African law he is eligible to serve the remainder of his sentence under correctional supervision.

The 28-year-old double-amputee runner has been moved from a central Pretoria jail to live in his uncle's house.

Pastor Errol Naidoo, Founder and President of the Family Police Institute in Capetown, South Africa, told Premier's News Hour that: "We have intolerable levels of violence against women, the murder of women by their spouses and close friends and boyfriends - that is a crisis in our nation.

"A high-profile celebrity getting off the hook so easily - what does it say about our justice system?"

Pistorius has said he thought Reeva Steenkamp was an intruder in his home and killed her by mistake.

Two conditions for Pistorius's house arrest have been made public by the correctional services department - Pistorius must continue to undergo psychotherapy while under house arrest and he is not allowed to handle any firearms.

Other details of his release are not yet know.

Pastor Errol Naidoo added that: "Forgiveness is part of our Christian ethos - I think most people must forgive, but justice is critical for South Africa because we have a lot of problems with injustice in this country."

But he said the mood in the country was unhappy with the decision: "They were shocked firstly with the very lenient sentence he got in the first place, and I think this is worsening the situation because he hasn't served even one year of his five year sentence."

Mr Wolela, the correctional services department spokesman, had previously not ruled out ultimately allowing Pistorius to return to training. He also said Pistorius would not be required to wear an electronic tagging device.

Pistorius was acquitted of murder last year, however prosecutors have appealed the trial verdict of culpable homicide, or manslaughter, and will seek a murder conviction again at South Africa's Supreme Court in November.

Listen to Premier's Antony Bushfield speak to Pastor Errol Naidoo here:

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