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With Oscar Pistorius' release from prison on hold, a look at his life behind bars

Oscar Pistorius' release from prison, first slated for Friday, is now on hold. Jeff Rossen shared new details about his life behind bars.
/ Source: TODAY

Oscar Pistorius' release from prison, originally scheduled for Friday, has been put on hold by the South African government. The Paralympian was to have gone from prison to house arrest 10 months after being convicted of culpable homicide in the death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, but the South African justice minister said Wednesday that that decision was made "prematurely" and "without legal basis," and now the date of his release is unclear.

On Wednesday, TODAY national investigative correspondent Jeff Rossen shared new details from South Africa about Pistorius' life isolated in a tiny cell in the hospital wing of a prison notorious for violence and gangs. He is allowed outside only an hour a day with another hour in the weight room, and is reportedly so worried that his food could be poisoned that he eats canned sardines and baked beans.

Boswell Mholongo, who was an inmate of the prison at the same time as Pistorius, says the former Olympian was "a VIP prisoner" who got special treatment "because he's got money." Pistorius' family denies he's getting special treatment, and prison officials didn't respond to requests for comment.

To suggest a topic for an upcoming investigation, visit the Rossen Reports Facebook page.