Pistorius begins correctional supervision under house arrest

South African Paralympian Oscar Pistorius has been released on parole, beginning his correctional supervision, authorities said on Tuesday.

The paralympian was due to be released on Tuesday, but prison authorities decided to allow him to leave late Monday night to avoid a media gauntlet.

Pistorius will spend the remainder of his five-year sentence under house arrest with some restrictions. But despite this, it's believed that he will be able to work, socialise and even attend events.

His family spokesperson Anneliese Burgess said Pistorius is not free and his sentence has not been reduced.

Burges said Pistorius is currently at his uncle Arnold's Waterkloof home.

Pistorius has spent a year of his five-year sentence in jail for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013. He will now conclude the sentence at home.

The Department of Justice and Correctional Services said the decision to release Pistorius a day earlier than planned does not constitute preferential treatment.

The Parole Board decided to release Pretoria on parol last week.

The Board had initially allowed Pistorius' release on 21 August 2015, but the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Michael Masutha reversed this decision, arguing that it was taken prematurely.

Under the South African law, a prisoner can only apply for parole after spending a sixth of his sentence behind bars.

Pistorius will be staying at his uncle's house since he sold his own house to cover legal costs. Prison authorities have not specified the conditions under which Pistorius will serve his parole.

Legal experts warn that Pistorius' restricted freedom could be short lived. On November 3 this year, prosecutors will appeal his five-year capable homicide sentence at the Supreme Court of Appeal.

The state believes that judge Thokozile Masipa failed to interpret properly the principle of dolus eventualis, which is the law of intent to kill.

The state wants the Supreme Court to rule that Masipa erred in her judgement and insists that Pistorius should instead be found guilty of murder not capable homicide.

If the Supreme Court decides that Judge Masipa was not correct, it will certainly have the power to give him a fresh conviction of murder and to increase his sentence to 15 years.

If it finds him guilty of murder in the first degree, his sentence can actually be increased to life, which equates to 25 years in jail in this country, according to legal expert Advocate Gabriel Shumba. Enditem