Gunman Oscar Pistorius may have to sweep the floors of his local church and park cars for the congregation to appease his parole officers, can reveal.
The 37-year-old Olympian and Paralympian, who murdered his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, has been given a choice as how to serve out his punishment during the remainder of his 13-year sentence as a free man.
Pistorius, also known as The Blade Runner due to his prosthetic legs, has been asked how he wants to carry out his community service which forms part of his parole deal.
Among the options open to the athlete who ran at the London 2012 Olympics, are helping clean a local hospital, auxiliary duties at a police station or even a return to prison to help warders with maintenance.
But a source said the runner, who has hidden himself away from prying eyes since his release on Friday, is favouring helping at the NG Kerk Dutch Reformed Church, a mile away from where he is living with his uncle Arnold.
Gunman Oscar Pistorius (pictured in 2014) may have to sweep the floors of his local church and park cars for the congregation to appease his parole officers, can reveal
The 37-year-old Olympian and Paralympian, who murdered his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp (pictured together in 2012), has been given a choice as how to serve out his punishment during the remainder of his 13-year sentence as a free man
Private security outside the home of Oscar Pistorius’ uncle in the upmarket suburb of Waterkloof, Pretoria, South Africa
The NG Kerk Dutch Reformed Church (pictured), where Pistorius is expected to serve out his community sentence
Pistorius’ uncle Arnold and his wife Lois are regular attendees at the 65-year-old church, where services are relayed in Afrikaans to the congregation of 1000
More than 1,000 people make up the congregation of the church, while lies a mile away from where Pistorius is living with his uncle Arnold
Both Arnold and his wife Lois are regular attendees at the 65-year-old church, where services are relayed in Afrikaans to the congregation of 1,000 after bell ringing has taken place.
Pistorius, who reads his bible and Christian scriptures daily, is said to have told parole officers he is keen to help out at the church.
Parole officers have yet to sanction his wishes, but the source said it was ultimately down to Pistorius to offer them his choice or discuss alternatives.
‘One concern is that Oscar does not have to travel far to carry out his community service as any fares that have to be met will come out of the South African public funds.
‘The church is close to Arnold’s home and he is a regular face there on Sunday mornings so Oscar will feel welcome there.
The church writes on its website: ‘It says on its website: ‘For Waterkloof congregation it is very important to be able to create a warm, cozy and relaxed atmosphere in which everyone can feel welcome and at home’
‘It says on its website: ‘Our religious thinking does not oppose discoveries and developments of the Bible Sciences and Natural Sciences but welcomes them’
Pistorius will be regularly checked on for proof he has been carrying out his community service and corrections officers visited him this weekend to begin his parole process
Neighbours in the affluent Waterkloof suburb of Pretoria have rallied around the Pistorius family
‘He could sweep the floors or be given a yellow bib to help direct cars to parking areas as it gets very busy on Sunday mornings.
‘He could begin his duties by helping at a local police station too because he could remain private.
‘It doesn’t matter that he had a celebrity profile, he must be allowed to keep low key just like any other freed inmate on parole. He has his rights.
‘Atteridgevale Corrections Department is very keen for him not to be photographed and certainly not interviewed.
‘He must refrain from social media and remind himself that he is still serving a prison sentence.’
A source told : ‘He could sweep the floors or be given a yellow bib to help direct cars to parking areas as it gets very busy on Sunday mornings’
Pistorius, who reads his bible and Christian scriptures daily, is said to have told parole officers he is keen to help out at the church
A source said: ”Atteridgevale Corrections Department is very keen for him not to be photographed and certainly not interviewed’
Reeva Steenkamp is pictured in 2012 one year before her murder
Parents of murdered Reeva Steenkamp, June and Barry Steenkamp, stand in the court room at Pretoria High Court on June 13, 2016
Oscar Pistorius of South Africa competes in the men’s 200m T44 heat at the Olympic Stadium during the London 2012 Paralympic Games on September 1, 2012
Arnold Pistorius is pictured arriving at his home on Friday after his nephew Oscar Pistorius was released from prison – 11 years after he murdered his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp
Arnold is pictured leaving his home on Friday after his nephew Oscar was released from prison
The church would be like a second home to Pistorius who spent his prison years reading his bible and inviting fellow jail birds to join him.
It says on its website: ‘For Waterkloof congregation it is very important to be able to create a warm, cozy and relaxed atmosphere in which everyone can feel welcome and at home.
‘Our religious thinking does not oppose discoveries and developments of the Bible Sciences and Natural Sciences but welcomes them. After all, God is bigger than our current patterns of understanding.’
He will be regularly checked on for proof he has been carrying out his community service and corrections officers visited him this weekend to begin his parole process.
Neighbours in the affluent Waterkloof suburb of Pretoria have rallied around the Pistorius family and even joined in in the operation to smuggle him to the mansion.
None of the family have been prepared to comment and his sister Aimee, who has flown in from her home in London, was seen driving out in an SUV at lunchtime.
But local estate agent Tetiana Sakhnenko, who manages the sale of properties worth millions in Waterkloof and nearby Brooklyn, said: ‘I would not like to live next to a murderer and he will not be good for this district.
‘He should remain in prison for at least 15 years, I do not believe what he says that he shot Reeva by accident.
‘There will also be a problem of many people driving here to look at the house where Oscar Pistorius is living. Not good at all.’