After life of luxury, Pistorius will be one 7,000 inmates in Pretoria prison

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After life of luxury, Pistorius will be one 7,000 inmates in Pretoria prison

Pistorius will be one of nearly 7,000 inmates in the once notorious jail

PUBLISHED : Wednesday, 22 October, 2014, 5:19am
UPDATED : Wednesday, 22 October, 2014, 5:19am

Agencies in Pretoria

The Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Services prison is Oscar Pistorius’ new home. The athlete was sentenced yesterday to five years behind bars for killing his girlfriend. Photo: AP

Oscar Pistorius's fall from grace as an international star athlete was complete yesterday as he was driven through the gates of a drab Pretoria prison to begin serving a five-year jail sentence.

Pistorius will be just one of nearly 7,000 inmates behind the towering walls of the Kgosi Mampuru prison, where he was taken just hours after being sentenced for killing his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year.

Oscar Pistorius and girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Photo: AFP

Formerly known as Pretoria Central Prison, the facility was notorious for its brutality towards political prisoners held under the racist apartheid regime which collapsed 20 years ago.

The conditions in the prison will present a major lifestyle shift for the once high-flying Paralympian gold medallist who is accustomed to a life of luxury, beautiful women and fast cars.

"He is already accommodated at Kgosi Mampuru," correctional services spokesman Manelisi Wolela said.

He underwent a medical assessment shortly after his arrival and would be held in a special hospital section of the prison, said correctional services officer Ofentse Morwane.

This would be followed by a further assessment in 21 days to determine his "correctional sentence plan."

The 27-year-old double-amputee's physical disability formed a crucial part of his legal team's pre-sentencing arguments, which suggested he would face particular suffering in prison.

Judge Thokozile Masipa, however, found the prison services would be able to cope adequately with Pistorius, as they do with other disabled prisoners.

The department of correctional services has stringent regulations for inmates' visiting hours and possessions allowed inside, including food.

Sport clothes, including tracksuits, vests, socks and sport shoes are only allowed following approval by authorities. Computers are prohibited, and only one photo album can be kept.

He may receive letters and cards from family, to be kept for a maximum of three months.

Pistorius reenacted on Australian television how he found Reeva Steenkamp dead in the bathroom after he shot through the bathroom door at what he says he thought was an intruder. Photo: SCMP

The sentencing drew a mixed reaction. Standing outside the High Court in Pretoria, Trust Riunesu held up an image on his mobile phone. It was a picture of Gerrie Nel, the State Prosecutor who sought a 10-year prison sentence for Pistorius.

"I agree with Gerrie Nel," the 22-year-old said while a police wagon waited to take Pistorius to jail today. "The minimum was supposed to be 10 years. Society should learn from the court if someone does wrong."

At the bar owned by Steenkamp parents in the coastal city of Port Elizabeth, there were some customers who agreed, calling it a "travesty of justice".

But others were satisfied.

"I thought he would walk. I think justice was done because at least he got jail time," said 50-year-old Martin Cohen, who worked as a race horse trainer with Reeva's father, Barry.

"Now that justice has been done I think the parents will get some closure."

Agence France-Presse, Bloomberg, Reuters