Show producer Samantha Moon said the decision to air the program on Saturday as scheduled was difficult but ultimately she wanted to share the "special memories" of Steenkamp.

"Reeva was an intelligent, beautiful and amazing woman, and we feel it would be an injustice to keep that unknown from those who did not know her personally," Moon said.

In this frame grab from South African television channel SABC 1 a tribute is paid to slain model Reeva Steenkamp, girlfriend of athlete Oscar Pistorius. Denis Farrell / Associated Press

The South African Broadcasting Corporation, which aired the show, said it was dedicated to Steenkamp and displayed the words "Reeva Steenkamp, 19 August 1983 - 14 February 2013" between images of a rose and a candle in a short tribute before the show aired.

Steenkamp, victim of a Valentine's Day shooting, who was shot in the head, hand, chest and hip, according to domestic media reports, will be buried on Tuesday.

Many South Africans thought the decision not to delay the show until after the funeral was wrong.

"It was very insensitive to put it on air before she was even buried," said insurance consultant Montle Ndlovu. "It's such a sad story. She was young and pretty and had her whole life in front of her."

'No special treatment'

The downfall of Pistorius has sent shockwaves through South Africa, where many saw him as a rare example of a hero who transcended the racial divides that linger in the nation.

But the killing of Steenkamp has once again turned the spotlight on South Africa's frighteningly high levels of violence against women.

The country is still reeling from the murder this month of 17-year-old Anene Booysen, who was gang-raped, mutilated and left for dead on a building site.

Although sexual crime is all too common - on average a woman is raped every four minutes - the similarities to the murder of a New Delhi woman that triggered protests in India led to an "Enough is Enough" campaign to halt the violence against women endemic in South African society.

The ruling African National Congress' Women's League called for the courts to deny bail to Pistorius to show the government is serious about stopping gender-based violence.

"Pistorius must be treated like any other person accused of such crimes, and no special circumstances should be considered based on his celebrity status," the league said.

Reuters - AP

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