Pistorius not paroled, a decade after Steenkamp murder

STORY: Oscar Pistorius was not granted parole on Friday (March 31), a decade after murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, South African prison authorities said.

It had been thought that the former Paralympic champion, jailed in 2016, was eligible to be considered for early release having served half his 13-year sentence.

But Singbakho Nxunhalo, national spokesperson for the Department of Correctional Services, said the court had received a clarification order from the Supreme Court.

It stated, he said, that Pistorius had not completed the "minimum detention period".

"In simple English, half of the sentence is yet to be served."

Nxunalo added that Pistorius would have to appear again in August 2024 when the minimum term will have been completed.

Pistorius killed Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013.

She was shot several times through a bathroom door with ammunition designed to inflict maximum damage to the human body.

Steenkamp's family had opposed his parole bid.

Arriving at Atteridgeville prison ahead of the closed-door hearing on Friday morning, Reeva's mother June Steenkamp had said it would be difficult to be in the same room as her daughter's killer.

“Don’t believe his story. Don’t believe his story.”

Speaking on behalf of the Steenkamps, lawyer Tania Koen said the outcome was a "relief" but that "today is not a cause for celebration" and that "we miss Reeva terribly and will do so for the rest of our lives."

Pistorius' lawyer was not available for comment after the hearing.