Lack of ankles not to hamper Pistorius' prospects of early release

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has warned journalists to refrain from irresponsible reporting after it was reported that convicted Paralympian Oscar Pistorius would not be eligible for correctional supervision because an electronic monitoring device cannot be fitted to his ankle.

This came in light of a report in a British publication on Monday.

DCS spokesperson Manelisi Wolela said in a statement that the department rejects any notion that attempts to pre-empt any decision that would be taken with respect to the offender concerned, and that would have an impact on Pistorius' rehabilitation, Sport24 reported.

Wolela further stated that the DCS also calls upon journalists to refrain from irresponsible reporting, and to take care to report news truthfully, accurately and fairly.

Wolela said that the correctional services regulations stipulated that electronic monitoring devices must be compact, un-obstructive and allow persons under community corrections as far as possible to carry out their normal daily activities.

She revealed that the electronic monitoring device must be fitted to the ankle or wrist without causing a risk to the person's health.

Pistorius was jailed for five years for the culpable homicide of his girlfriend, law graduate and model Reeva Steenkamp. He shot her dead through the locked toilet door in his Pretoria home on 14 February last year, the report added.