Michael Masutha, South Africa's Justice Minister, suggested it would be an important part of his rehabilitation and their healing process, even if his victims' relatives were reluctant.
"I can tell you everybody else can try and comfort you, but it is especially the person who is the source of your pain, who making peace with is likely to bring the greatest healing," he told ENCA.
"Sometimes when somebody says no, it's not because they're saying no. They're saying no because they're processing in their own system and they haven't come to that point."
Lawyers for the Blade Runner, as he was known for the carbon fibre blades he competed on, indicated he was keen for such a meeting.
Tania Koen, the Steenkamp's lawyer, said they too would consider it. "They have always responded positively to the suggestion but obviously the time must be right and currently it is not," she said.
Pistorius left Kgosi Mampuru II Prison in Pretoria to begin a four-year period of house arrest at his uncle's palatial villa in the upmarket suburb of Waterkloof. For the past 12 months, he has spent up to 13 hours a day in a single cell in the prison's hospital wing. Pistorius family spokesman Anneliese Burgess said he was at his uncle Arnold's house, adding that the family was "hunkered down".
As part of his release under correctional supervision, the former Paralympic runner is expected to undertake extended community service as well as further psychiatric treatment to come to terms with the shooting in the early hours of Valentine's Day, 2013.
He said he fired believing Steenkamp was a burglar and was trying to protect them both. The state argued he intended to kill the model and law graduate after an argument.
Reeva's parents appealed against Pistorius' release when it was first mooted two months ago, saying it "sent the wrong message" about the value of life.
They declined to make further representations to the parole board that sat last week and ordered his release.
Koen said they were resigned to him getting his liberty. "They have no choice but to accept it but it doesn't make them happy," she said. "They have faith in the justice system and believe the law must take its course."
On November 3, the state will appeal the judge's decision to convict Pistorius of manslaughter instead of murder at the Supreme Court in Bloemfontein. If its appeal is upheld, Pistorius could return to prison to serve a life sentence in a matter of weeks.
Key events this year
June 8: Prison authorities say Oscar Pistorius is scheduled to be freed under house arrest on August 21.
August 17: Prosecutors file an appeal calling for Pistorius to be convicted of murder.
August 19: The Justice Ministry puts the decision to free Pistorius on hold saying it had "no legal basis" and had been suspended pending a parole board review.
September 27: Pistorius' defence team submits their argument fighting a state bid to have Pistorius found guilty of murder.
October 5: Pistorius will have to undergo psychotherapy, the parole review board says, a day after delaying a decision on his release from prison.
October 19: Pistorius released on house arrest one day ahead of the publicised date, in an apparent bid to avoid media attention.
- AFP
