Members of Reeva Steenkamp's family were not seen in court on Friday as her alleged murderer Oscar Pistorius appeared for the fifth day of his trial in the High Court in Pretoria.

While Steenkamp's mother had attended the proceedings on Monday, she has not been seen in court since then.

Steenkamp's father was reported to have suffered a mild stroke several and was not expected to attend the proceedings this week.

Steenkamp's cousin, Kim Martin, who has constantly attended the proceedings, did not return after court adjourned for lunch on Thursday.

After holding a brief conversation with Pistorius's sister Aimee, she cried as details of her cousin's injuries were revealed.

Pistorius shot Steenkamp in the arm, thigh and in the head.

The part of the court gallery that previously been occupied by the Steenkamp family was occupied on Friday by three members of the ANC Womens League, as well as two women friends of the Steenkamps.

During an adjournment, Pistorius on Friday shook hands with the ANCWL members.

Pistorius's family has maintained a strong presence in court, with Aimee attending all the proceedings since Monday.

During the week, the family was seen embracing Pistorius and at times praying with him.

Pistorius shot and killed Steenkamp, a model and law graduate, through a locked toilet door at his home in Pretoria on Valentine's Day last year.

He claimed to have mistaken her for an intruder.

The State, however, argues that it was premeditated murder.

He is also charged with illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, and two counts of discharging a firearm in public.

He allegedly fired a shot from a Glock pistol under a table at a Johannesburg restaurant in January 2013.

In September 2010 he allegedly shot through the open sunroof of a car with his 9mm pistol while driving with friends in Modderfontein.