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
- APRIL 25, 2002South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
South Africa was a cosponsor and voted for the resolution...
South Africa was a cosponsor and voted for the resolution 2002/77 on the death penalty at the 58th UN Commission on Human Rights
- APRIL 16, 2002South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) called on the...
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) called on the South African government to reconsider the death penalty before vigilantism overtook the justice system
- FEBRUARY 4, 2002South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
More than 800 people protesting outside the Kokstad...
More than 800 people protesting outside the Kokstad Magistrate's Court in KwaZulu-Natal were overjoyed at the court's decision not to grant bail to eight murder suspects
- JANUARY 18, 2002South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
Six South African men accused of raping a nine-month-old...
Six South African men accused of raping a nine-month-old baby in October 2001 were freed by a court in Upington after insufficient evidence was gathered for the case to proceed
- JANUARY 10, 2002South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
Two Botswana fugitives were extradited back to the...
Two Botswana fugitives were extradited back to the Botswana from South Africa, the Department of Home Affairs said
- JANUARY 1, 2002South 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
- DECEMBER 28, 2001South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
In his New Year's message, South African President...
In his New Year's message, South African President Thabo Mbeki called on all South Africans to play a part in fighting the scourge of child rapes in the country
- DECEMBER 28, 2001South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
The South African Department of Home Affairs wants...
The South African Department of Home Affairs wants an assurance from the Botswana government that two of that country's fugitives being held in South Africa will not be hanged if they are extradited
- DECEMBER 24, 2001South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
South Africa's opposition parties urged the government...
South Africa's opposition parties urged the government to let the public decide whether to reinstate capital punishment, amid increasing calls for the return of death penalty in the country
- DECEMBER 16, 2001South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
Rapists, especially those who raped young children,...
Rapists, especially those who raped young children, should be given the death sentence, said Sylvia Farmer, whose teenage daughter Valencia Farmer was gang-raped, stabbed numerous times and left dead in a derelict house on the Cape Flats
- DECEMBER 15, 2001South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
Western Cape Premier Peter Marais called for the re-instatement...
Western Cape Premier Peter Marais called for the re-instatement of the death penalty in order to end a spate of murders and rapes, the SABC reported
- DECEMBER 13, 2001South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
An angry crowd called for the reinstatement of the...
An angry crowd called for the reinstatement of the death penalty during the court appearance of an Eastern Cape child rapist Vusumzi Stena