Gender group says Pistorius could restore trust in the justice system

The Commission for Gender Equality wants to see Oscar Pistorius' sentencing proceedings debunk the myth that the rich and famous can get away with murder.

Speaking outside the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Monday‚ spokesperson for the commission Javu Baloyi said: “As the Commission for Gender Equality‚ we want to see a situation where the trust of the people of South Africa is restored in the justice system - that the justice system doesn't only serve the rich and the famous but serves everyone across the spectrum.

“At the end of the day‚ it's about the rights of Oscar‚ the rights of Reeva's family and justice for Reeva.

“We must debunk the myth that every time there’s someone who has got money‚ they get off scot free and don't get the sentence they deserve.”

Pistorius' sentencing proceedings began on Monday with the defence calling psychologist Jonathan Scholtz to the witness stand.

Scholtz said Pistorius' post-traumatic stress disorder and depression have grown since his murder trial in 2014.

Pistorius‚ who is out on bail of R10 000‚ must be sentenced again after the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) last year overturned his culpable homicide conviction for shooting and killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp and replaced it with that of murder.

The double-amputee athlete's lawyers may argue for a lighter sentence than the prescribed minimum of 15 years for murder.

He has already served a year of the five-year jail term he was given for culpable homicide before being released under correctional supervision in October last year.