Double-amputee ”blade runner” Oscar Pistorius is in a satisfactory condition following a boating accident on the Vaal River last week, Gauteng police said on Wednesday.
”We have not yet taken a statement from Pistorius as we haven’t been given the go-ahead from his doctors, we will do it soon because his doctors are very happy with his progress,” said Superintendent Maria Mazibuko.
Mazibuko said police are investigating a case of reckless and negligent driving, but could not say if alcohol played a role in the accident.
In a newspaper report, Mazibuko was quoted as saying: ”We are investigating the possibility that the consumption of alcohol had played a role in the boating accident.”
She, however, told Sapa: ”I have been misquoted … We are still busy with investigations, and don’t even know who was driving the boat. How could we know when we haven’t even taken a statement from Oscar?
”Whether alcohol played a role in the accident will only be revealed in due time once investigations are complete, but at this point in time, I cannot say if it did.”
Mazibuko said a decision on whether to charge Pistorius would be taken at a later stage.
The Beeld reported that on Tuesday afternoon Pistorius was moved from the intensive care unit at Netcare Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg to a private room in the general ward.
Hospital spokesperson Amelda Swartz said: ”We don’t expect him to be discharged from hospital before Friday.”
The boat was extracted from the Vaal river on Tuesday. Police divers found the boat near a pier which had been ripped from its posts.
The Beeld also reported that it was told by a reliable source that Pistorius had taken ownership of the second-hand boat only four days before the accident.
The accident occurred on Saturday and Pistorius suffered serious face injuries. — Sapa