Paralympian Oscar Pistorius started crying shortly after entering the Pretoria Magistrate's Court for his appearance on a charge of killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Wearing a dark suit, he put his hands to his mouth and started crying after Magistrate Desmond Nair greeted him.

Top prosecutor Gerrie Nel stood nearby.

Nair told him to be calm, and Pistorius sat down.

The State read out a charge of murder and then his lawyer began proceedings with a discussion on the media coverage in the court.

Nair said he received a letter from public broadcaster the SABC to broadcast proceedings.

The SABC said if it wasn't possible to cover the proceedings directly, it would want to record before and after the proceedings.

Legal affairs reporter Karyn Maughan of e News Channel Africa (eNCA), made a request for eNCA and for other media to be allowed to cover proceedings.

Meanwhile, Pistorius sat with his jaw clenching and his cheek twitching.

His lawyer began proceedings with a discussion on the media coverage in the court.

Pistorius was arrested on Thursday after Steenkamp was shot dead in his home, at the Silver Woods Country Estate in Pretoria, on Valentine's Day.