Oscar Pistorius release: A reminder of South Africa's femicide problem - BBC News

The freeing on parole of the ex-athlete reignites the discussion about violence against women in South Africa.

1 day agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Reeva Steenkamp is one of the many victims of femicide in South AfricaBy Danai Nesta KupembaBBC NewsShould men who murder women be entitled to the privilege of parole?

This question around the early release of inmates, albeit under certain conditions, has been raised in South Africa following the freeing on parole of former Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius.

This was after he had served half of his sentence for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentine's Day in 2013.

South Africa has a particular problem with femicide and violence against women. In 2020, a woman died at the hands of her intimate partner on average every eight hours, according to a study by the University of the Free State.

In 2019, South Africa ranked among the five countries with the highest rates of the murder of women, according to the United Nations.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-67873941?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA

---