Thanks for all the good posts. Still patiently following along.
I am pleased there is an well-written appeal from the prosecution, uncertain about it's success. Reading other appellate decisions by SA courts does not lead one to much confidence in the law, unfortunately. There are systemic issues which have led to some fairly perverse findings that I believe show cultural and political indifference and structural problems.
One of the many problems (slightly off topic to Pistorius trial) is that re-offence or multiplex offences have at times led a downgrade of murder to culpable homicide. Therefore, in Humphries v. State, the fact that Humphres had illegally and recklessly jumped the train bumper and ignored warning lights multiple times and succeeded in killing 10 children only on his last instance of dangerous driving, led the appeals court to decide he could not have "reconciled" himself to murder/dolus.
http://www.saflii.org/za/journals/DEREBUS/2013/130.html
Or the fact that Jub Jub decided to race his car under the influence of illegal drugs was a major factor in the appeals court finding him not responsible for murder. The precedent set by these Supreme Court decisions is the illogic that if one has previous "got away" with crimes (eg. ingestion of illegal substances or previous multiple driving offences) than they may not than be held responsible for further fatal offences.
In general sentences in South Africa are frightening light and many will often only receive a suspended sentences at best. 14 people were killed between Humphries and Jub Jub yet neither received more than ten years in sentence.
Defence attorney Manny Witz described a successful defence case where his client merely received a suspended sentence for knife-slaying his wife - the husband was supposedly too intoxicated to understand his killing actions (automatism) even though he could still lock his fatally injured wife in the house and drive away from the scene.
Still, am hopeful that there is enough legal will, intelligent and passionate advocates and a population push that this appeal may at least draw attention on the many problems of the SA judiciary.