Reeva's mother wants answers

2013-02-18 08:52

Reeva Steenkamp. (AP)

Port Elizabeth - The mother of Oscar Pistorius's slain girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, said in a newspaper interview published on Monday that she wanted answers on why her daughter had "died like this".

"Why my little girl? Why did this happen? Why did he do this? What for?" asked June Steenkamp.

Pistorius is facing a murder charge after allegedly gunning down Steenkamp in his Pretoria home last week. He is expected to apply for bail on Tuesday.

"She had so much of herself to give and now all that is gone. Just like that, she is gone... In the blink of an eye and a single breath, the most beautiful person who ever lived is no longer here," she told The Times newspaper in a phone interview from her home in Seaview, Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape.

'Horrendous death'

"All we have is this horrendous death to deal with... to get to grips with. All we want are answers... answers as to why this had to happen, why our beautiful daughter had to die like this."

She added that Reeva was proud of being a South African. "She loved this country and all its people. This was the only place she called home."

Meanwhile, Steenkamp's father, Barry, told Britain's Daily Mail that he bears no animosity towards Pistorius, but is struggling to "to find some reason why this happened to our lovely daughter".

Steenkamp's flatmate, Gina Myers, refused to comment to the Times about her relationship with Pistorius, but described her as "amazing".

"Her faith in the world, love for everyone and everything, and positive outlook is what made many people live. There is not a single word that can describe how amazing she was. The energy with which she loved, whether it was in a friendship or relationship, was incredible. She loved loving."

"All I want are answers. That is what all of us, including both families, want. We want the truth to come out ... everyone to be honest about what happened," Myers said.

Visit News24's Oscar Pistorius Special Report.

- SAPA