Oscar Pistorius gets parole

The former paralympian was jailed nearly a decade ago for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013. 

Pistorius was initially sentenced to six years in prison for culpable homicide in the High Court in Pretoria.  

But the conviction and sentence were later overturned by a higher court.

The verdict was changed to murder and the athlete was given a 13-year prison term.

In recent months there has been confusion about whether or not Pistorius had served half of his sentence to be eligible for parole. 

Pistorius' bid for parole was denied in March with the parole board saying he had not served the minimum required sentence.

The former sprinting champion approached the Constitutional Court, asking it to rule on his eligibility. 

Last month, the apex court confirmed that he was eligible in March when the parole board met. 

Following Friday's decision, the Correctional Services Department said in a statement that Pistorius' parole is effective from 05 January 2024.

"Mr Pistorius will complete the remainder of the sentence in the system of community corrections and will be subjected to supervision in compliance with parole conditions until his sentence expires."

Steenkamp's mother was not present at Friday's hearing. 

Rob Matthews, the father of kidnapped and murdered student Leigh Matthews, read out a statement behalf of June Steenkamp. 

"I am not attending Oscar's parole hearing as I simply cannot muster the energy to face him again at this stage. I have forgiven Oscar long ago as I knew most certainly that I would not be able to survive if I had to cling to my anger. 

"I do not believe Oscar's version - that he thought the person in the toilet was a burglar. In fact, I don't know anybody else who does. My dearest child screamed for her life loud enough for the neighbours to hear her."