Oscar Pistorius eligible for parole in 2023

An administrative amendment to the judgment, which saw the disgraced Paralympian imprisoned for murder, has made it clear from which date his sentence is effective.

The Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein amended the judgment to provide for the days he spent in prison when he was found guilty on a charge of culpable homicide.

The 34-year-old's conviction was changed to murder in July 2016.

He was then sentenced to a period of 13 years and five months.

“It is quite clear that from the judgment delivered … the court intended to antedate the sentence to 6 July 2016. Unfortunately, the court omitted to include the antedating of the sentence in the order itself,” reads a letter by registrar Paul Myburgh.

Pistorius killed Reeva Steenkamp eight years ago.

The Correctional Services Department's Singabakho Nxumalo says inmates are eligible to be considered for parole after they’ve served half of their sentence.

If calculated, Pistorius can apply to the parole board in March 2023. However, there are many other requirements before a parolee is released into society.

These include possible representations by the Steenkamp family at parole hearings and his behaviour in detention.

“He started serving the current sentence in 2016, but then it was culpable homicide which was converted into murder,” says Nxumalo.

"That was the only procedure by the court, meaning when you start calculating his sentence, you start calculating from 2016.

“We wouldn't want to comment on what is reported (about) 2023. What we can state is that all inmates are eligible for consideration after having spent the minimum required time.”