No self-respecting Twitter follower could have failed to notice the recent upheaval over a Cape Town waiter’s order slip, which contained a description of a pair of customers as “2 blacks”. Before tweeters could chirp themselves into a frenzy, the Premier of the Western Cape, Helen Zille – an ardent tweeterbox – entered the fray […]

JOHANNESBURG (UPDATED Wednesday, 5 November 2014) The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) yesterday filed its appeal against the conviction and sentencing of Oscar Pistorius on a charge of culpable homicide. The NPA described Judge Thokozila Masipa’s sentence of five years in jail for the death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in February 2013, as “shockingly light’ […]

The Oscar Pistorius trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013 got underway on March 3 this year. Shocked supporters of the double-amputee Paralympic and Olympic sprinter woke up to the news on February 14 last year that Oscar had killed Reeva in the mistaken belief she was an intruder. As […]

CONSIDER YOUR VERDICT With only days to wait for the verdict of what some have dubbed the trial of the century, the undoing of Oscar Pistorius continues to make headlines in media around the world. Oscar admitted at the start that he shot and killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in the early hours of Valentine’s […]

Johannesburg, Sunday. The latest in the Oscar saga will be revealed at midday South African time when an Australian broadcaster screens what is reported to be a “secret video” in which Oscar Pistorius re-enacts events the night he killed Reeva Steenkamp. [Please see Updates below.] Allegedly filmed by an American company as part of “pre-trial prep”, […]

Without much ado, court resumed on Monday for what is expected to be the last lap of the Oscar Pistorius trial for the premeditated murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on February 14, 2013. At the request of advocate for the state, Gerrie Nel, Oscar has spent this past month as an out-patient at Weskoppies Psychiatric […]

The trial of Oscar Pistorius, who is charged with the premeditated murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013, is due to resume tomorrow, Monday June 30, in the North Gauteng High Court. The story that divided us into those who didn’t believe a word he said and those who gave him posies […]

Ardent Oscar opponents may yet be granted their wish for him to be locked up and the key thrown away. The Olympian athlete with carbon-fibre prosthetics, who killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on February 14, 2013, begins his court-ordered mental health evaluation next week. This ruling follows earlier testimony by forensic psychiatrist Dr Merryll Vorster […]

Judge Thokozile Masipa today ruled that Oscar Pistorius must be referred for 30-day psychiatric evaluation following Monday’s evidence from forensic psychiatrist Dr Merryll Vorster that he may suffer from General Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Called by the defence, Dr Vorster testified that GAD might have played a role in Oscar’s actions when he shot and killed […]

Advocate Gerrie Nel told the court he would tomorrow apply for Oscar to be referred for 30-days’ mental observation. This twist came after defence advocate Barry Roux called forensic psychiatrist Merryll Vorster to testify in Oscar’s murder trial. Roux’s intention was to bring to the court’s attention psychiatric factors that might be of relevance during […]

For everyone’s sake, let’s hope the trial winds down soon. What started off as a showcase of our legal expertise has turned into Comedy Central. In a nutshell, this was the week that: • The father and daughter who were first on the scene said Oscar was screaming, crying and praying; • Reeva’s ‘best friend’ […]

It’s unusual for one writer to write about another, but a post on my Facebook page last night grabbed my attention. My FB friend and tweetpal Jani Allan posted a recent interview with someone called Glen Larmer on New Zealand’s RadioLive. So why am I writing about her? SAPeople readers will be familiar with Jani’s […]

The virtual noise of digital media surrounding the Oscar Pistorius murder trial after 25 long days of testimony, has diminished since Judge Thokozile Masipa granted Advocate Gerrie Nel’s request for a postponement until May 5. Taking a break from proceedings, the legal teams have time to review what’s ensued to date and to regroup. Oscar’s […]

It was a day of surprises on Tuesday in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria where the usual suspects were gathered for the Oscar Pistorius murder trial. Chief Prosecutor Gerrie Nel abruptly ended his cross-examination of the defendant, and Defence Advocate Barry Roux spent a mere nine minutes in re-examination. Nel had given nothing away at the start […]

It’s most likely been a very long and lonely weekend for Oscar Pistorius without his defence team to reassure him and coach him. Legal process forbids him from consulting with his legal counsel about the trial for the duration of his swearing in for cross-examination. Likewise, it’s out of bounds even with his family. I […]

Oscar Pistorius’ murder trial was again adjourned today after Oscar collapsed sobbing in the witness stand. Starting where he and his advocate Barry Roux left off yesterday, Oscar replied to Roux’s leading questions in the same monotonous tone like someone who has learnt his lines. Repeatedly asked to speak up by Roux and Judge Thokozile […]

Based on performance, it’s debatable whether Day 17 of the Oscar Pistorius trial belonged to prosecutor Gerrie Nel or Oscar himself, but in terms of the headlines and reactions via the social media, the defendant won hands down. There are readers of SAPeople who disapprove of my apparent flippancy as I share my perceptions of the players and […]

This Monday, April 7, when Oscar Pistorius’ murder trial resumes in the North Gauteng High Court, it’s unlikely he will be the first on the stand as anticipated. It’s the second anti-climax for trial-watchers following its postponement on March 28, when Judge Thokozile Masipa told the legal teams, the defendant and a packed public gallery, […]

Much to the surprise of Oscar trial observers, the prosecution called it a day today and court was adjourned until Friday March 28, when the defence will make its case. For us armchair members of the jury, Advocate Gerrie Nel’s case seems incomplete but what we should not forget is cross-examination of witnesses for the defence is […]

As the prosecution winds down its case, we can expect some bombshell revelations, and today – Monday March 24, 2014 – was just the beginning. Hawks’ cellphone expert Captain Francois Moller read out transcripts of WhatsApp messages between Oscar and Reeva, which have been downloaded from Reeva’s cellphone. Below is a sample. Oscar has denied witness testimony […]

I’m back on the beat of the Oscar trial after time away from the action. Like a voyeur, I’ve been playing catch-up, tracking the replays of the Oscar Pistorius trial on Channel 199 as his uncertain fate nears. I’ve missed writing about Oscar. Like anyone with a habit, I had withdrawal symptoms and couldn’t wean […]

Even before Oscar Pistorius’ trial began for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, South Africans were in a tizz over the world media being allowed to broadcast proceedings. A week later, the armchair judiciary was up in arms over Judge Thokozile Masipa’s perceived lenience towards the defence. In their sights was Advocate Barry Roux who raised […]

The Oscar trial for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp has predictably divided South Africans at home. We’ve long demonstrated our polarisation on issues as diverse as BEE, Jacob Zuma, EFF, eTolls – you name it. So of course Oscar is no different. Currently, it’s not so much whether he’s guilty or not but rather whether […]