Silver Woods Estate 'back to normal'

2013-02-18 18:40

Silver Woods Estate (Picture: AFP)

Pretoria - The situation at Silver Woods Estate, in Pretoria, was "back to normal" on Monday after model Reeva Steenkamp was shot dead at paralympian Oscar Pistorius' home there last week.

"The tension is over, people are talking, they are no longer whispering," said domestic worker Andy Maotwe.

But police crime scene tape still surrounded Pistorius' house by 17:00 on Monday, according to another worker.

"There are yellow tapes around the house, but there is no movement," said Johannes Tsamago, who works near Pistorius' house.

Local and international media converged on the golfing estate and motorists took pictures with their cellphones while they drove past after news of the shooting broke on Thursday.

On Monday, as dark rainclouds gathered over the estate, motorists drove by without a second glance.

"My employer told me the latest news this morning and I'm still shocked. I do not know Oscar personally, but after this I'm following any news reports about him," said Maotwe, who works only on Mondays and Thursdays.

She was shocked to see police officers and journalists at the estate on Thursday. Nobody had been able to tell her what had happened, other than that someone had been shot .

Another worker, Maria Sello, said she discussed the shooting with her employer on Monday morning.

"We talked about it, the court proceedings tomorrow and the possible sentence," she said. "We feel sorry for him [Pistorius].

Other workers said they were keen to hear whether Pistorius would be granted bail when he appeared in court on Tuesday.

Pistorius is expected to apply for bail at the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

The State has indicated that it intends opposing the application.

Visit News24's Oscar Pistorius Special Report.

- SAPA