A mother’s story

AUCKLAND PARK – June Steenkamp sat down with her lawyer at UJ’s auditorium on 10 March for the book discussion of Reeva: A mother’s story.

The sombre room was filled with media houses and honoured guests including ANC Women’s League stalwart Jackie Mofokeng, who were all anticipating a glimpse of Steenkamp.

June read a snippet from the book, including an emotional poem published in the book, and spoke about the last moments of her daughter Reeva’s life.

Steenkamp said she wrote the book to keep Reeva’s memory alive.

“It was a good thing to write the book. To keep the memory of Reeva. We will never pack her pictures away, our home is like a memorial. The hardest part of writing the book was writing about seeing Reeva for the last time.”

June also touched on her intention to establish the Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation for women and children survivors of domestic abuse – a cause she said her daughter was passionate about.

“Once it is founded, the foundation will be able to help hundreds of women who are in trouble and children.”

Speaking about her daughter’s relationship with the athlete, Steenkamp said she did not know about Pistorius’ guns and “fast life”, but warned all mothers to make their daughters their best friends

“If Oscar Pistorius didn’t have guns, Reeva would have been alive today.”