Tucked away in one of South Africa’s most affluent suburbs, the Goddess Cafe in Waterkloof is a shrine of femininity. Described by its owners as a ‘pink paradise’, even the burger buns and lattes are served in shades of that color. Dishes are sprinkled with rose petals, while cerise-colored parasols and blossoms adorn the ceilings and walls.
In this somewhat incongruous setting, convicted killer Oscar Pistorius has been seen lunching with his girlfriend, Rita Greyling. The former Paralympic athlete’s appearance in an establishment frequented by wealthy young women and social media influencers is seen by some as a sure sign of the seriousness of their romance. According to a source, “You can’t imagine a less likely place to see Oscar Pistorius, but he and Rita hold hands and look lovingly across the table at each other. He is besotted with her. You can see they are deeply in love.”
Pistorius’s New Life and Ambitions
Oscar Pistorius, who was freed from jail on parole in January 2024, is attempting to move on with his life. He has expressed a desire to marry and start a family, and he is also relaunching his sporting career, having participated in an Ironman triathlon in June. This development follows his involvement in the tragic death of his former girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, whom he shot dead on Valentine’s Day in 2013.
Meanwhile, the British mother of Reeva, June Steenkamp, is in a hospital critically ill after suffering a stroke nearly three weeks ago. Friends of June, 78, fear she may not even remember her beloved daughter. “It’s heart-breaking to think that she might not be able to remember what happened to Reeva,” a family friend told the Daily Mail. “She is barely able to speak. It’s impossible to follow what she is saying or have a conversation. She doesn’t know her own name and doesn’t recognize people. She is seriously ill, and the doctors cannot tell us yet the full extent of the damage to her brain.”
The Steenkamp Family’s Ongoing Struggles
June’s stroke comes two years after her husband Barry’s death, who passed away two years after meeting Pistorius in prison. There, Barry asked Pistorius to swear on a Bible that he did not mean to kill Reeva. Pistorius refused, which Barry took as proof of his guilt. June’s inability to say more than a few words is particularly heart-rending given her vow to become her daughter’s voice by raising awareness of violence and abuse against women and children through a foundation set up in Reeva’s name.
Despite her efforts, June has faced financial hardships, forcing her to put her home up for sale. “It’s a cruel twist of fate that while Pistorius has been able to turn over a new leaf and embark on a new life, his crime has had a lifelong impact on June,” says a family friend. “He’s had a second chance, but there was no starting again for June and Barry.”
Contrasting Fortunes: Pistorius and the Steenkamps
While Pistorius is living in a luxury cottage in Pretoria, June has been “living in poverty,” according to her lawyer. Her property is said to be worth no more than £50,000, and she had been forced to put it up for sale before her stroke because she could not afford repairs. Yet, while June’s health has become increasingly frail, Pistorius’s appears to be going from strength to strength.
Three months ago, Pistorius returned to competitive sport after being given permission by his parole officer to compete in a triathlon in Durban. He came 555th overall and third in the ‘physically challenged’ category. His relationship with Rita Greyling, a management consultant and daughter of one of South Africa’s wealthiest farmers, could further cement his rehabilitation.
“He has said he wants to settle down and have kids. He sees it as the next step for them,” according to a source.
Such a marriage would unite two powerful Afrikaans clans with deep roots in South Africa. Rita’s father, Barend Petrus Greyling, once expressed hopes that his daughters would “marry men who know how to farm.” Meanwhile, Pistorius’s family wealth stems from a business empire founded by his grandfather in 1944.
Looking Forward
June Steenkamp had recently planned to move back to the UK, where her eldest daughter, Simone, lives. She had even organized a pet passport for her dog. However, her current health condition has put these plans on hold. “She can’t leave now, and it’s not yet clear what the future will hold,” says Tania Coen, a family lawyer.
For June Steenkamp, the agony of Reeva’s death is unending. Pistorius, meanwhile, appears to be seizing his second chance, living a life that starkly contrasts with the ongoing struggles of the Steenkamp family. As the story of Oscar Pistorius continues to unfold, the world watches closely, reflecting on the complex interplay of redemption, justice, and the enduring impact of past actions.
