One of Reeva Steenkamp's closest friends and confidants, Samantha Jonker, has strongly condemned the decision to release Oscar Pistorius, who was convicted of murdering Steenkamp, after serving less than half of his sentence. Pistorius, known as The Blade Runner, has been met with public outrage as anti-violence campaigners question the leniency shown to him.

Samantha Jonker, who grew up with Reeva in Port Elizabeth, expressed her disbelief, saying that Pistorius had "literally got away with murder." Speaking to MailOnline, she criticized South Africa's message by allowing a murderer such freedom, demanding that he be locked away for life. Jonker pointed out the privileges Pistorius enjoyed in prison, such as having a private room with a television and a dedicated exercise area, which were not granted to other inmates.

Reeva Steenkamp, who was only 29 years old, was fatally shot by Pistorius on Valentine's Day in 2013. Initially claiming it was an accident, Pistorius was eventually convicted of murder after a long legal battle. Rather than receiving a life sentence, he was sentenced to 13 and a half years in prison.

Samantha Jonker, now residing in Berlin, reminisced about her friendship with Reeva, recalling their shared experiences and the joy they brought to each other's lives. She expressed her ongoing grief and inability to forgive Pistorius for the devastating choice he made, mentioning that she thinks about Reeva every day and has a picture of her in her home.

Anti-violence campaigners, including Bulelwa Adonis from South Africa's Women for Change group, also voiced their disappointment with Pistorius's release. Adonis emphasized that Pistorius's lack of admission of guilt showed a lack of accountability, highlighting the prevalence of gender-based violence and femicide in the country. She shared alarming statistics, revealing that 3,914 women were murdered in the 12 months prior to March 2023, with 12 women being murdered daily in South Africa.

Upon his release, Pistorius has been subjected to strict parole conditions, including mandatory anger management courses, abstaining from alcohol, and a ban on weapons. He must also inform his parole officers of his whereabouts and stay at his uncle's home during specific hours. Pistorius is not allowed to give media interviews, potentially affecting his previous status as a sought-after guest on major US talk shows.

Pistorius has spent his initial days of freedom secluded in his uncle's mansion in Pretoria. It is reported that he may seek employment to fulfill his parole requirements, with some suggesting his religious beliefs could lead him down the path of becoming a preacher. His uncle has pledged to monitor Pistorius closely and ensure compliance with his bail conditions.

The release of Oscar Pistorius has sparked outrage among friends of Reeva Steenkamp and activists fighting against violence and femicide, who argue that justice has not been served. As public discourse intensifies, questions linger about the message being sent by allowing a convicted murderer to regain his freedom before completing his sentence.