South Africa
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- parliamentary republic
- CONSTITUTION
- December 10, 1996 signed by President Mandela and came into effect on February 4, 1997
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- bicameral, National Assembly and National Council of Provinces
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Constitutional Court; Supreme Courts of Appeal; High Courts; Magistrates' Courts
RELIGIONS
Christian majority
From the country
- JANUARY 1, 2003South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
South Africa, throughout four decades of institutionalized...
South Africa, throughout four decades of institutionalized racial discrimination, South Africa became one of the world's leading execution centers
- NOVEMBER 25, 2002South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
The Inkatha Freedom Party called on the government...
The Inkatha Freedom Party called on the government to conduct a referendum to determine whether people want a reinstatement of the death penalty in South Africa
- NOVEMBER 12, 2002South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
South Africa is refusing to extradite the last fugitive...
South Africa is refusing to extradite the last fugitive Patty Hearst kidnapper - unless the US guarantees he will not be executed
- NOVEMBER 9, 2002South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
A High Court judge in Mpumalanga province, South Africa,...
A High Court judge in Mpumalanga province, South Africa, called on the Constitutional Court to review the abolition of the death penalty, saying violence was out of control, politicians did nothing but talk, and jail terms were simply not a deterrent
- NOVEMBER 5, 2002South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
The SA Human Rights Commission released its report...
The SA Human Rights Commission released its report on prisoners still on death row despite the abolition of the death penalty seven years ago
- NOVEMBER 1, 2002South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
Pan Africanist Congress general secretary Thami ka...
Pan Africanist Congress general secretary Thami ka Plaatje called for the death penalty for suspects in the Soweto bombings case
- OCTOBER 18, 2002South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
Less than a day after being informed she would not...
Less than a day after being informed she would not be participating in the Miss World pageant in Nigeria, Miss South Africa Vanessa Carreira said she was "honoured" to be taking a stand against the abuse of women in that country
- SEPTEMBER 30, 2002South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
The African National Congress (ANC) called on South...
The African National Congress (ANC) called on South African president Thabo Mbeki to urge his Nigerian counterpart to prevent the execution of Amina Lawal, who has been sentenced to death by stoning for adultery
- SEPTEMBER 27, 2002South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
The South African law society (LSSA) called for the...
The South African law society (LSSA) called for the Nigerian government to set aside the ruling of the Sharia court that sentenced Amina Lawal to death by stoning for having a baby out of wedlock
- SEPTEMBER 27, 2002South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
The Law Society of South Africa (LSSA) appealed to...
The Law Society of South Africa (LSSA) appealed to the Nigerian government to set aside the ruling of the Sharia Court that sentenced Amina Lawal to death by stoning for having had a baby outside wedlock
- SEPTEMBER 19, 2002South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
South Africa was totally opposed to the death by stoning...
South Africa was totally opposed to the death by stoning sentence imposed on a Nigerian woman but an Islamic Court, but the issue should be seen in the broader Nigerian context, President Thabo Mbeki said in reply to Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon d
- SEPTEMBER 18, 2002South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
South African groups urged the boycott of the Miss...
South African groups urged the boycott of the Miss World contest due to be held in Nigeria in November