DAY 45: PISTORIUS’ MANAGER PEET VAN ZYL UNDER CROSS-EXAMINATION Oscar Pistorius’ manager, Peet van Zyl, faced cross-examination on the morning of the 45th day of the Oscar Pistorius Trial. Advocate Gerrie Nel went through all of Oscar’s charity work, challenging the notion that Oscar is a unique sportsman for being involved in charity work. Van Zyl conceded that many sportsmen are involved in charity work and in fact use charity work as a platform for marketing and self-promotion. Nel also challenged the fact that Oscar had used his own funds for some of his charity work and had not received any remuneration for his philanthropy. Van Zyl agreed that in some instances charity work was mixed in with marketing opportunities – for which Pistorius was remunerated – and that in some instances donations had not come directly from Oscar’s own savings or funds. For example, Nike gear that Oscar donated to a young girl had in fact come from his Nike budget. In terms of an honoroury doctorate that Oscar received from Strathclyde University, Nel pointed out that it was not given to him for his work done with the university as Van Zyl had testified but rather for his past and expected future sporting achievements. Nel also asked Van Zyl why he had included in his document that it was the fault of the media and the state that Oscar was not conducting any promotional talks following the killing of Reeva Steenkamp. Van Zyl said that blaming the state was an error in his judgment and that while Oscar was to blame for his actions, the media had also not reported on all the facts of the case accurately worsening perceptions of Pistorius in the public light.
Posted on: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 11:08:45 +0000
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