South African Olympic and Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius has been released under house arrest nearly one year after he was jailed for killing his girlfriend, prison officials say.

He is expected to spend the remainder of a five-year prison sentence at his uncle's home in Pretoria.

He shot Reeva Steenkamp through a locked bathroom door in 2013 but said he thought she was an intruder.

Steenkamp's relatives say they think Pistorius is "getting off lightly".

Oscar Pistorius, 28, was found guilty of culpable homicide, or manslaughter, of his 29-year-old girlfriend at a trial in October last year.

A case lodged by the prosecution appealing against that decision is due to be heard by the Supreme Court of Appeal on November 3. State prosecutors say Pistorius should have instead been convicted of murder.

The athlete was released last evening, a day earlier than expected, according to a spokesman from the Kgosi Mampuru II prison, where Pistorius was being held.

"Oscar Pistorius was placed under correctional supervision tonight [last night]," Manelisi Wolela confirmed in a statement.

"The handling of the actual placement is an operational matter of the local management, and how they handle it is their prerogative that is carried out in the best interest of all parties concerned, the victims, the offender and the Department of Correctional Services," he added.

Oscar Pistorius was driven under cover of darkness to his uncle's house 20 minutes away, a premature departure designed presumably to avoid the media glare, says the BBC's Karen Allen in Pretoria.

It is understood he will not be electronically tagged but he will have restrictions on his movement, she adds.

His parole conditions include gun ownership restrictions and continued psychotherapy sessions. The disabled sportsman is also expected to do a period of community service.

South Africa's justice minister blocked an earlier attempt to get the Olympic athlete's release in August in a surprise move.

Speaking earlier to the BBC, Reeva Steenkamp's cousin Kim Martin said the family might consider visiting Pistorius when the time is "right". But she also said she felt he was "getting off lightly".

Her parents have previously said that the time served by Pistorius was "not enough for taking a life".

Under South African law, the double amputee was eligible for release under "correctional supervision" having served a sixth of his sentence.

Meanwhile, a close family friend of the athlete said he was in poor physical shape, adding that his return to athletics would be unlikely.

Pistorius competed in the 400 metres at the London 2012 Olympics, wearing carbon-fibre blades to run against able-bodied athletes.

If the prosecution is successful with its appeal next month, Pistorius could face a lengthy sentence back in prison.