A South African minister has said the acquittal of athlete Oscar Pistorius of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp is "extremely disappointing".
Oscar Pistorius cries in the dock as the judge read out her verdict. Photo: AFP
Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga told the BBC she thought the judgement was "based on technicalities, not on facts".
Ms Steenkamp's parents also said "justice was not served".
Judge Thokozile Masipa found Pistorius guilty of the lesser charge of culpable homicide.
She said the state had failed to prove Pistorius intended to kill.
Ms Motshekga, who is also president of the governing ANC women's league, said she believed ordinary women in the country will now not feel that the law protects them.
Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp in January 2013. Photo: AFP
She said that she found Pistorius' version of events implausible and added she hoped the state would appeal against the verdict.
South Africa's prosecuting authority has said it will wait until after sentencing to decide whether to appeal.