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South African Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Michael Masutha on Wednesday suspended the decision of the Parole Board to release paralympian Oscar Pistorius on parole.
This follows a petition to the minister by a women's rights group that opposed the release.
The Correctional Services and the Parole Board had earlier announced that Pistorius would be released on Friday.
But Masutha blocked the decision, saying the law was not followed in coming up with that decision.
On October 21, 2014, Pistorius was sentenced to a five-year imprisonment for capable homicide. He was accused of shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp through a closed bathroom door on Valentine's Day in 2013.
In June this year, the Parole Board approved his application for parole and the coming Friday was set as his day of release.
Masutha's spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga said that after receiving a petition from the Progressive Women of South Africa, urging the minister to block Pistorius's release, Masutha discovered that the Parole Board's decision to release Pistorius on parole was taken on June 5. This, the minister said, contravened the law that says such consideration can be made after an offender has served one sixth of his sentence.
In this case, Mhaga said one sixth of Pistorius's sentence is 10 months, and it will only be complete on Friday, and it is only then that a decision can be taken whether to release him or not.
"An offender sentenced in terms of section 276 of the Criminal Procedure Act, like Pistorius was, must serve at least one sixth of that sentence before he can be considered to be placed under correctional supervision, but in this instance the decision, the consideration thereof was done on the 5th of June when it was not legible for consideration for placement on parole," Mhaga said.
The intended early release had already caused a national outcry. Thilivhali Netshifhefhe, a woman activist from Limpopo Province, described the intended release as a miscarriage of justice.
Netshifhefhe said, "It is not fair for Oscar Pistorius to get out now. He killed someone, so he should stay in Prison for life not for ten months."
Gender groups had also added their unhappiness to Pistorius's intended release. Mbuyiselo Botha, spokesperson for the Sonke Gender Justice, likened it to a spit on Reeva's grave.
"It sends a very sad message and that message is that if you are rich, white, and privileged then you can do what you want," said Botha.
However, Legal Expert, Advocate Gabriel Shumba said early release is provided for in the country's laws.
Sumba said, "If for example you have shown during your incarceration good behavior, you can actually be allowed out, to serve the rest of your portion out of jail."
He added that parole usually comes with stringent conditions at times almost similar to those of a house arrest.
"Parole does not necessarily mean that he is off the hook. It comes with conditions that may include not travelling beyond a certain distance from his home and not meeting certain people," said Shumba.
But Netshifhefhe still insisted that whatever conditions are given, sitting at home does not match the crime, which Pistorius committed.
She said, "He should stay with other prisoners in prison. Staying in your house is not a punishment at all."
But not everybody is against Pistorius's release on parole. Matlhodi Masetla, 22, said it is time to give him a second chance.
"People will still have opinions but I still believe justice has been served. Even if he remains in jail till he dies it would still not justify what he did," Masetla said.
However, Minister Masutha said that for now, Pistorius's release is on hold.
