Oscar Pistorius will be released from jail next week after serving 10 months of his five year sentence for killing his girlfriend, the model Reeva Steenkamp.

While the former athlete did not apply for early release himself, the parole board at Kgosi Mampuru II prison in Pretoria where he is being held has recommended he be released into the community at the first opportunity.

After a trial which gripped the world’s attention and ultimately found him guilty of culpable homicide, Pistorius’s time in prison has itself not been without controversy.

Oscar Pistorius leaving the Pretoria High Court after being sentenced on October 21, 2014

But in June, the South African correction services confirmed he would serve the minimum of a sixth of his five-year sentence behind bars.

“He’s behaving himself very well,” said Zach Modise, the services’ national commissioner.

A picture taken on January 26, 2013 shows Olympian sprinter Oscar Pistorius posing next to his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp - 3 weeks later Pistorius was taken into police custody. When will Pistorius be released?

Pistorius will leave prison on Friday 21 August, exactly 10 months on from his sentence hearing.

Whether he will remain free, however, is another matter. His case remains subject to a Supreme Court appeal hearing in November, when prosecutors will argue that his conviction should be scaled up to murder – and a minimum 15-year jail term.

He would not be expected to attend the appeal hearing, in which five judges will be asked to decide whether Judge Thokozile Masipa correctly interpreted the law when she found Pistorius not guilty of murder.

She made her decision despite the athlete having fired four times through a locked toilet door into a tiny cubicle which, having heard the door slam shut, he knew was occupied.

Oscar Pistorius listens to his judgement in the Pretoria High Court on October 21, 2014, in Pretoria, South Africa. Pistorius was sentenced to five years in prison by Judge Thokozile Masipa. What are Pistorius’s parole conditions?

On the basis of protecting his “privacy”, correctional services officials have declined to provide details on Pistorius’s specific conditions for supervision once he leaves jail.

Manelisi Wolela, a spokesperson for the department, suggested the former athlete would be subject to the standard system for all offenders as “mandated by law”.

Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Show all 53 1 /53 Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Members of the South African Police Service with Oscar Pistorius in the back of an armoured police vehicle as he is transported away from the High Court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius escorted by south African policemen enters a police van after being sentenced at the High Court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius enters a police van after his sentencing at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius is lead away by police and into an armoured vehicle as he is transported away from the High Court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius is escorted by south African policemen to a police vehicle to transported to prison at the High Court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Reeva Steenkamp's parents Parents of Reeva Steenkamp leave the High Court in Pretoria after Oscar Pistorius was sentenced to 5 years in prison for shooting his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Pistorius leaves the Pretoria High Court after he is sentenced in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius is led out of court in Pretoria. Pistorius received a five-year prison sentence for culpable homicide by judge Thokozile Masipais for the killing of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius turns to leave the dock following his sentencing at the high court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius holds the hands of uncle Arnold Pistorius and family members as he is taken down to the holding cells by South African police after being sentenced to five years imprisonment for the culpable homicide killing of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at the high court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius embraced by his coach Ampie Louw before his sentencing on day six of sentencing procedures at the High Court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Aimee Pistorius Oscar Pistorius's sister Aimee Pistorius looks on during sentencing of Oscar Pistorius at the High Court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius listens to his judgement in the Pretoria High Court Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius stands in the dock as sentence is delivered at the High Court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Judge Thokozile Masipa Judge Thokozile Masipa speaks during the last day of sentencing hearing of Oscar Pistorius at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Reeva Steenkamp's parents Reeva Steenkamp's parents June and Barry Steenkamp arrive in the Pretoria High Court for the last day of Oscar Pistorius sentencing Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius arrives in court on day six of sentencing procedures at the High Court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius arrives for the last day of his sentencing at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius reacts during day five of sentencing procedures at the High Court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius cries during his fifth day of sentencing hearing at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius wipes tears during his fifth day of sentencing hearing at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius in the dock during day four of sentencing procedures at the High Court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius The sister of Oscar Pistorius, Aimee (L), sits next to her aunt Lois during his sentencing hearing at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius South African Judge Thokozile Masipa waits before the sentencing hearing of Oscar Pistorius at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius sits in court before the fourth day of sentencing proceedings in the high court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius arrives for the fourth day of sentencing at North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius leaves the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius on day three of sentencing procedures at the High Court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius is comforted by his lawyer Barry Roux, while listening to a family witness's account of her longstanding friendship with Reeva Steenkamp, during his sentencing proceedings at the high court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Reeva Steenkamp's parents Barry Steenkamp, father of Reeva Steenkamp, is consoled by his wife June Steenkamp during the sentencing hearing of Oscar Pistorius at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius South African Olympic and Paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius arrives at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria. Pistorius returned to the court on the third day of sentencing procedures for the negligent killing of his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Reeva Steenkamp's parents June Steenkamp (front) and her husband Barry (L), parents of Reeva Steenkamp, arrive at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on the third day of Pistorius sentencing Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Carl and Aimee Pistorius Siblings Carl and Aimee Pistorius arrive at the High Court in Pretoria, as their brother Oscar Pistorius appears on the third day of the sentencing procedure Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius leaves the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria. He returned to the court for the second day of sentencing procedures for the negligent killing of his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures June Steenkamp June Steenkamp leaves the High Court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Barry Steenkamp Barry Steenkamp leaves the High Court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius sits in the Pretoria High Court on the second day of his sentencing Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Samantha Taylor and Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius makes his way past his ex girlfriend Samantha Taylor as he arrives in the Pretoria High Court for sentencing in his murder trial in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius and Carl Pistorius Oscar Pistorius hugs his brother Carl Pistorius as he arrives in the Pretoria High Court for the second day of sentencing in his murder trial Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Reeva Steenkamp's family Reeva Steenkamp's family arrive at the High Court for the second day of the sentencing of Oscar Pistorius murder trial in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures A supporter of the death penalty outside the court A supporter of the death penalty holds a noose outside the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius arrives at the High Court for the second day of sentencing in his murder trial in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius is greeted by an unidentified woman at the end of his first day of sentencing hearing at the High Court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius looks down while his psychologist gives evidence during sentencing procedures on a charge of culpable homicide at the High Court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures June Steenkamp Reeva Steenkamp's mother June Steenkamp during the sentencing of Osar Pistorius in the Pretoria High Court Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius arrives in court to face sentencing for the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius talks to one of his defence lawyers at the High Court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius sits after arriving for sentencing procedures on a charge of culpable homicide at the High Court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Gerrie Nel Prosecutor Gerrie Nel cross-examines a witness during the court appearance of Oscar Pistorius in his sentencing on a charge of culpable homicide at the High Court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures June Steenkamp June Steenkamp, the mother of Reeva Steenkamp arrives at High Court for the sentencing of Oscar Pistorius murder trial in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Barry Steenkamp Barry Steenkamp, father of Reeva Steenkamp, arrives ahead of the sentencing of Olympic and Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Barry Roux Barry Roux, Defence lawyer of Oscar Pistorius, arrives at the High Court in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius arrives at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria

In practice, it has been reported that Pistorius will live under effective house arrest at his uncle Arnold’s home in Waterkloof, Pretoria.

He is likely to be required to do community service, take part in regular mental health checks and refrain from drinking alcohol.

Will he be able to compete as an athlete?

As part of his initial supervision, Pistorius’s travel will be severely restricted. That means that while the South African system demands he try to secure employment after his incarceration, he will in practice struggle to return to professional athletics. Oscar Pistorius celebrates as he wins gold in the Men's 400m T44 Final on day 10 of the London 2012 Paralympic Games

The organising body behind the Paralympics in Rio in 2016 have already said that Pistorius will not be permitted to compete, regardless of his bail conditions. Officials from the Olympics have declined to comment on his situation.

Provided he commits no further crimes to trigger his additional three-year suspended sentence, and the state’s appeal against his sentence fails, Pistorius will have served his full punishment by the time the 2020 Olympics comes around in Tokyo.

By then he will be aged 33, some way past the peak age for most professional sprinters.

What do the Steenkamps think about it?

June Steenkamp, Reeva Steenkamp's mother, gives a press conference ahead of a discussion on her book 'Reeva, a Mother's story'. Reeva's parents have said despite not wishing for Mr Pistorius to suffer

At the time of Pistorius’s parole hearing, Ms Steenkamp’s parents, June and Barry Steenkamp, condemned the decision to release the athlete so early in his sentence.

In a strongly worded letter, which officials said had been taken into consideration, they said: “We do not seek to avenge her death and we do not want Mr Pistorius to suffer; that will not bring her back to us.

"However, a person found guilty of a crime must be held accountable for their actions.

“Statistics show that our society is under continuous attack from criminals and murderers. Incarceration of 10 months for taking a life is simply not enough. We fear that this will not send out the proper message and serve as the deterrent it should.”