Oscar Pistorius has been denied early release from prison for killing

Pistorius is due to be released on Friday after serving 10 months of a five-year sentence, in line with South Africa’s custodial guidelines for non-dangerous prisoners. However, the Mirror reports that Justice Minister Michael Masutha released a statement saying that Pistorius won’t be released.

Oscar Pistorius won’t be discharged from jail this Friday after it was ruled the choice to the move him to house capture was made “too soon”.

In blocking Pistorius’ release, the justice department said he was approved for home correctional supervision by parole officials in June, only eight months into his sentence.

The government’s intervention came on what would have been Reeva Steenkamp’s 32nd birthday.

The earliest the board could now meet again would be Friday.

This is because the athlete had not yet served a sixth of his sentence when the decision was made, so may now have to face more months inside before he will be eligible for parole. It is not clear yet whether it will take months to review the decision, or if the athlete’s release will be only slightly delayed.

Political pressure from the Progressive Women’s Movement of South Africa (PWMSA), a women’s rights advocacy group. which includes the African National Congress Women’s League – part of the governing party – seems to have made the difference.

The minister has asked the parole board to review his case, kicking off a process that may take weeks and nearly guarantees the sprinter will remain behind bars.

Pistorius’s lawyers are “considering their options”, Anneliese Burgess, a spokeswoman for the athlete and his family, said by phone today.

Steenkamp’s family protested the release, as did a local women’s group.

The double amputee shot and killed Ms Steenkamp through a locked bathroom door at his Pretoria home, believing she was an intruder, he told his trial.

Though he could return to training, Pistorius is unlikely to ever compete at the highest level again given his age and lack of intensive training since Steenkamp’s death, experts say.

Pistorius was jailed for five years for the culpable homicide of Ms Steenkamp, a charge equivalent to manslaughter. His defence team now has a month to file its response.

Pistorius is also facing an appeal at the Supreme Court in November, when prosecutors will again press for a murder conviction and a minimum jail sentence of 15 years.