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Suzanne Brenner

Suzanne Brenner is the owner of PROWRITE WRITING SERVICES CC an outsourced professional writing company (www.prowrite.co.za). Suzanne graduated at the University of Natal, Durban (now UKZN) and then lived in London and Cape Town before settling in Johannesburg. Among other positions held in print media, Suzanne was appointed editor of Darling magazine in 1983 and prior to that she was editor of Express Beat, her self-conceived supplement in SA’s Sunday Express. She was a senior TV producer at the SABC on Arts Unlimited, 50/50, Antenna and Sundowner. In 1994, she was seconded to the TV News election unit and after leaving the SABC, she kept her hand in by working as a freelance bulletin writer and insert producer on the English TV News desk. She launched PROWRITE in 2003. Suzanne is a keen tweeter. Follow her @prowriting

Oscar Pistorius latest: the NPA appeals Judge Masipa’s findings

By Suzanne Brenner 05-11-14 18:12

JOHANNESBURG (UPDATED Wednesday, 5 November 2014) The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) yesterday filed its appeal against the conviction and sentencing of Oscar Pistorius on a charge of culpable homicide. The NPA described Judge Thokozila Masipa’s sentence of five years in jail for the death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in February 2013, as “shockingly light’ […]

Oscar Pistorius Trial

Will October 13 be Oscar’s Day of Reckoning?

By Suzanne Brenner 06-10-14 10:01

The Oscar Pistorius trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013 got underway on March 3 this year. Shocked supporters of the double-amputee Paralympic and Olympic sprinter woke up to the news on February 14 last year that Oscar had killed Reeva in the mistaken belief she was an intruder. As […]

Oscar Pistorius

Oscar: the Final Countdown

By Suzanne Brenner 09-09-14 04:59

CONSIDER YOUR VERDICT With only days to wait for the verdict of what some have dubbed the trial of the century, the undoing of Oscar Pistorius continues to make headlines in media around the world. Oscar admitted at the start that he shot and killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in the early hours of Valentine’s […]

Oscar Pistorius trial

OSCAR: Breaking News

By Suzanne Brenner 27-02-15 20:28

Johannesburg, Sunday. The latest in the Oscar saga will be revealed at midday South African time when an Australian broadcaster screens what is reported to be a “secret video” in which Oscar Pistorius re-enacts events the night he killed Reeva Steenkamp. [Please see Updates below.] Allegedly filmed by an American company as part of “pre-trial prep”, […]

Oscar Pistorius

Oscar: The Last Defence

By Suzanne Brenner 02-07-14 07:33

Without much ado, court resumed on Monday for what is expected to be the last lap of the Oscar Pistorius trial for the premeditated murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on February 14, 2013. At the request of advocate for the state, Gerrie Nel, Oscar has spent this past month as an out-patient at Weskoppies Psychiatric […]

Oscar Evaluation Ready for Submission to Court

By Suzanne Brenner 29-06-14 13:38

The trial of Oscar Pistorius, who is charged with the premeditated murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013, is due to resume tomorrow, Monday June 30, in the North Gauteng High Court. The story that divided us into those who didn’t believe a word he said and those who gave him posies […]

Oscar Pistorius in court today

The Judge Rules on Terms of Oscar’s Evaluation

By Suzanne Brenner 20-05-14 20:53

Ardent Oscar opponents may yet be granted their wish for him to be locked up and the key thrown away. The Olympian athlete with carbon-fibre prosthetics, who killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on February 14, 2013, begins his court-ordered mental health evaluation next week. This ruling follows earlier testimony by forensic psychiatrist Dr Merryll Vorster […]

Oscar Pistorius in court today (with his sister in the background)

Oscar WILL be Sent for Psychiatric Evaluation

By Suzanne Brenner 14-05-14 18:16

Judge Thokozile Masipa today ruled that Oscar Pistorius must be referred for 30-day psychiatric evaluation following Monday’s evidence from forensic psychiatrist Dr Merryll Vorster that he may suffer from General Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Called by the defence, Dr Vorster testified that GAD might have played a role in Oscar’s actions when he shot and killed […]

Oscar Pistorius in court today, Monday 12 May 2014

Breaking News: Court to Apply for Psychiatric Evaluation of Oscar Pistorius

By Suzanne Brenner 12-05-14 18:10

Advocate Gerrie Nel told the court he would tomorrow apply for Oscar to be referred for 30-days’ mental observation. This twist came after defence advocate Barry Roux called forensic psychiatrist Merryll Vorster to testify in Oscar’s murder trial. Roux’s intention was to bring to the court’s attention psychiatric factors that might be of relevance during […]

Oscar Pistorius in court on Thursday

And the Oscar Trial Goes On and On and On…

By Suzanne Brenner 11-05-14 17:20

For everyone’s sake, let’s hope the trial winds down soon. What started off as a showcase of our legal expertise has turned into Comedy Central. In a nutshell, this was the week that: • The father and daughter who were first on the scene said Oscar was screaming, crying and praying; • Reeva’s ‘best friend’ […]

Suzanne Brenner (L) takes issue with Jani Allan.

Suzanne Brenner Takes Issue with Jani Allan

By Suzanne Brenner 05-05-14 21:59

It’s unusual for one writer to write about another, but a post on my Facebook page last night grabbed my attention. My FB friend and tweetpal Jani Allan posted a recent interview with someone called Glen Larmer on New Zealand’s RadioLive. So why am I writing about her? SAPeople readers will be familiar with Jani’s […]

Oscar Trial – Time to Reflect

By Suzanne Brenner 22-04-14 08:06

The virtual noise of digital media surrounding the Oscar Pistorius murder trial after 25 long days of testimony, has diminished since Judge Thokozile Masipa granted Advocate Gerrie Nel’s request for a postponement until May 5. Taking a break from proceedings, the legal teams have time to review what’s ensued to date and to regroup. Oscar’s […]

Tuesday’s Surprises in Oscar Trial

By Suzanne Brenner 16-04-14 09:07

It was a day of surprises on Tuesday in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria where the usual suspects were gathered for the Oscar Pistorius murder trial. Chief Prosecutor Gerrie Nel abruptly ended his cross-examination of the defendant, and Defence Advocate Barry Roux spent a mere nine minutes in re-examination. Nel had given nothing away at the start […]

Oscar Pistorius

A Weekend Without Counsel for Oscar

By Suzanne Brenner 14-04-14 08:27

It’s most likely been a very long and lonely weekend for Oscar Pistorius without his defence team to reassure him and coach him. Legal process forbids him from consulting with his legal counsel about the trial for the duration of his swearing in for cross-examination. Likewise, it’s out of bounds even with his family. I […]

Reeva Steenkamp

Oscar Cries off Tuesday

By Suzanne Brenner 07-01-21 00:14

Oscar Pistorius’ murder trial was again adjourned today after Oscar collapsed sobbing in the witness stand. Starting where he and his advocate Barry Roux left off yesterday, Oscar replied to Roux’s leading questions in the same monotonous tone like someone who has learnt his lines. Repeatedly asked to speak up by Roux and Judge Thokozile […]

Reeva Steenkamp's mother listens to Oscar's apology

Oscar takes the Stand…and Apologises to Reeva’s Mom

By Suzanne Brenner 07-04-14 19:51

Based on performance, it’s debatable whether Day 17 of the Oscar Pistorius trial belonged to prosecutor Gerrie Nel or Oscar himself, but in terms of the headlines and reactions via the social media, the defendant won hands down. There are readers of SAPeople who disapprove of my apparent flippancy as I share my perceptions of the players and […]

Reeva Steenkamp

Oscar is Not Likely to be First on the Stand

By Suzanne Brenner 04-04-14 16:55

This Monday, April 7, when Oscar Pistorius’ murder trial resumes in the North Gauteng High Court, it’s unlikely he will be the first on the stand as anticipated. It’s the second anti-climax for trial-watchers following its postponement on March 28, when Judge Thokozile Masipa told the legal teams, the defendant and a packed public gallery, […]

The State Wraps its Case in the Oscar Pistorius Trial

By Suzanne Brenner 25-03-14 18:45

Much to the surprise of Oscar trial observers, the prosecution called it a day today and court was adjourned until Friday March 28, when the defence will make its case. For us armchair members of the jury, Advocate Gerrie Nel’s case seems incomplete but what we should not forget is cross-examination of witnesses for the defence is […]

Reeva Steenkamp

Oscar Bombshell Cell Update

By Suzanne Brenner 24-03-14 19:07

As the prosecution winds down its case, we can expect some bombshell revelations, and today – Monday March 24, 2014 – was just the beginning. Hawks’ cellphone expert Captain Francois Moller read out transcripts of WhatsApp messages between Oscar and Reeva, which have been downloaded from Reeva’s cellphone. Below is a sample. Oscar has denied witness testimony […]

Are Oscar's spectacles a choreographed detail?

A Self-Confessed Junkie’s Fragmented View of the Oscar Trial

By Suzanne Brenner 24-03-14 19:10

I’m back on the beat of the Oscar trial after time away from the action. Like a voyeur, I’ve been playing catch-up, tracking the replays of the Oscar Pistorius trial on Channel 199 as his uncertain fate nears. I’ve missed writing about Oscar. Like anyone with a habit, I had withdrawal symptoms and couldn’t wean […]

Oscar Pistorius

FOR THE DEFENCE, MY LADY…

By Suzanne Brenner 10-03-14 13:28

Even before Oscar Pistorius’ trial began for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, South Africans were in a tizz over the world media being allowed to broadcast proceedings. A week later, the armchair judiciary was up in arms over Judge Thokozile Masipa’s perceived lenience towards the defence. In their sights was Advocate Barry Roux who raised […]

The Oscar Trial Divides the Nation

By Suzanne Brenner 05-03-14 14:46

The Oscar trial for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp has predictably divided South Africans at home. We’ve long demonstrated our polarisation on issues as diverse as BEE, Jacob Zuma, EFF, eTolls – you name it. So of course Oscar is no different. Currently, it’s not so much whether he’s guilty or not but rather whether […]