Prosecutors in South Africa have reportedly issued an arrest warrant for Oscar Pistorius.

The Paralympian was initially charged with the culpable homicide (which is similar to manslaughter) of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, who he shot at his home, but this was changed to murder this week by Supreme Court Appeal judge Justice Leach, who judged that Pistorius must have realised he would kill Steenkamp when he fired into the bathroom where she was.

The National Prosecuting Authority has issued the warrant, eNCA television report, but will not enforce it until next week.

NPA spokesman Luvuyo Mfaku was quoted as saying: "We are trying to arrange with the Pretoria High Court that he can appear before court, where the matter will be formally postponed for sentencing.

"We are trying to do this as a matter of extreme urgency. If it was up to us it would have happened yesterday already."

Although he has not yet been sentenced Pistorius will now face a minimum of 15 years in prison, following the change of his charge.