Justice Minister Michael Masutha said on Wednesday a parole board decision taken in June to free Pistorius and allow him to serve out the rest of his sentence under house arrest was "premature" and had been suspended pending review. The review panel has up to four months to make its decision.

Mofokeng told reporters she had exchanged text messages with June Steenkamp on Wednesday about the minister's decision, which came as the family was marking what would have been Reeva's 32nd birthday.

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Her group, the Progressive Women's Movement of South Africa, had lobbied against the release of the double amputee sprinter in August, which is celebrated in the country as women's month.

Steenkamp's family lawyer Tania Koen also said Reeva's parents welcomed the minister's decision, adding that they "have always had faith in the justice system."