The African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) notes the five- year sentence for culpable homicide given to paralympian Oscar Pistorius by the North Gauteng High Court. According to Section 276 of the Criminal Procedure Act the accused will serve one sixth of the sentence, effectively 10 months, and thereafter an offender can apply for placement under correctional supervision which is processed by Correctional Services. The ANCWL has studied the judgment and has developed a position that we planned to make public following sentencing. Our position will be considered in conjunction with the sentence, as we study the case law in question. It is the organization’s view that an appeal is in the interests of justice, as well as to send a strong message to the public that crimes against women should carry the maximum penalty. To this end the ANCWL intends to make representations to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) , based on legal opinion received and our findings on the case law. The NPA has 14 days in which to file intention to appeal. “We understand that they (NPA) haven’t made a decision on whether to appeal, and we will be guided by that, “ says ANCWL spokesperson Edna Molewa. The League wishes to reiterate that it remains dissatisfied with the culpable homicide verdict delivered by Judge Thokozile Masipa. In support of this view we hold that regardless of who Mr. Pistorius believed to be behind the bathroom door that fateful night, he shot to kill - and therefore a murder did occur. The ANCWL has consistently campaigned for harsh sentences in all cases of violence against women and children. It has particularly focused on cases where women are killed by their intimate partners. The killing of Reeva Steenkamp at the hands of her lover has once more brought this matter sharply into focus. “What is at issue here isn’t just the sentence, but the very law that resulted in Mr Pistorius being convicted of culpable homicide instead of murder.. we want it struck down, “ says Molewa. She added that one of the most distressing aspects of the judgment and sentence was that it set a harmful precedent. Statistics indicate that a woman is killed in every eight hours in South Africa. This situation is abnormal and should be unacceptable to every citizen. The ANCWL calls on all South Africans to remember the victim, Reeva Steenkamp, and her family and friends who continue to mourn her.
Posted on: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 16:50:26 +0000
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