South Africa
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1999
Data card
- Legal status
- Abolitionist
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 0
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 0
- First news item in the archive
- JANUARY 1, 1999 · Under white minority rule, the apartheid-era National...
- News items in the archive
- 202
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
South Africa is classified as Abolitionist in the Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026. In 2026 the association recorded 0 executions in the country, against 0 the year before. The archive holds 202 news items on South Africa, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
- JULY 11, 2026South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
SOUTH AFRICA: CALLS TO RESTORE DEATH PENALTY WOULD RETURN SA TO ‘BARBARISM’
- JANUARY 1, 2020South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in South Africa on June 6...
The death penalty was abolished in South Africa on June 6...
- JANUARY 1, 2019South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in South Africa on June 6...
The death penalty was abolished in South Africa on June 6...
- JANUARY 1, 2018South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in South Africa on June 6...
The death penalty was abolished in South Africa on June 6...
- JANUARY 1, 2017South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in South Africa on June 6...
The death penalty was abolished in South Africa on June 6...
JUNE 15, 2016BotswanaDEATH PENALTYSOUTH AFRICA: GOVERNMENT TO DEPORT BOTSWANA MURDERERS TO FACE DEATH SENTENCE
The government of South Africa decided to amend the Treaty on Extradition Act facilitating extradition
- JANUARY 1, 2016South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in South Africa on June 6...
The death penalty was abolished in South Africa on June 6...
- JANUARY 22, 2015MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: SOUTH AFRICAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR METH TRAFFICKING
A South African man has been sent to the gallows after he was found guilty of trafficking in close to 2kg of
- JANUARY 1, 2015South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in South Africa on June 6...
The death penalty was abolished in South Africa on June 6...
- OCTOBER 17, 2014BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
SOUTH AFRICA/BOTSWANA: WRONGLY REPATRIATED MAN WILL NOT BE SPARED THE NOOSE
Botswana’s defence minister, Ramadeluka Seretse, has insisted that his government will not give South
SEPTEMBER 23, 2014South AfricaDEATH PENALTYSOUTH AFRICA: HIGH COURT RULES BOTSWANA DEPORTATION ILLEGAL
the High Court in Pretoria ruled that South Africa wrongfully deported a wanted murder-accused back to his home country, Botswana, where he could face the death penalty.
SEPTEMBER 16, 2014BotswanaDEATH PENALTYSOUTH AFRICA: MURDER SUSPECT DEPORTED TO BOTSWANA EVEN THOUGH HE COULD FACE DEATH PENALTY THERE
Human rights lawyers are pressing South Africa to explain why a murder suspect from Botswana was
- JANUARY 1, 2014South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in South Africa on June 6...
The death penalty was abolished in South Africa on June 6...
- JANUARY 1, 2013South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in South Africa on June 6...
The death penalty was abolished in South Africa on June 6...
JULY 27, 2012South AfricaDEATH PENALTYSOUTH AFRICA: CONSTITUTIONAL COURT UPHOLDS DEATH PENALTY RULING
In South Africa, the Constitutional Court has upheld a ruling that government can't
MARCH 15, 2012South AfricaDEATH PENALTYSOUTH AFRICA: ZUMA SAYS 'NO' TO DEATH PENALTY
in South Africa, President Zuma was asked during question time in the National Assembly whether
- FEBRUARY 23, 2012BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
'EXTRADITE BOTSWANA FUGITIVE'
In South Africa, the Constitutional Court heard arguments in a case involving Botswana nationals
- JANUARY 1, 2012South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in South Africa on June 6...
The death penalty was abolished in South Africa on June 6...
- DECEMBER 12, 2011ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: SA WOMAN EXECUTED FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
A South African woman was executed in China for drug smuggling, eNews reported.
- MAY 1, 2011BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA: SA MAN ON DEATH ROW SPARED THE NOOSE
South African national Michael Molefe, 50, was saved from the gallows after successfully appealing his death sentence to the Botswana Court of Appeals.
- APRIL 9, 2011BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA STEADFAST OVER DEATH PENALTY
on April 15, South African Michael Molefhe and Brandon Sampson will appeal against their death sentences in the Court of Appeals in Gaborone, Botswana.
- JANUARY 1, 2011South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in South Africa on June 6...
The death penalty was abolished in South Africa on June 6...
- APRIL 9, 2010ChinaDEATH PENALTY
SOUTH AFRICAN WOMAN GETS DEATH PENALTY IN CHINA FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
a court in China upheld the death sentence awarded to South African woman Janice Bronwyn Linden, 35, for smuggling drugs into the country, the official Xinhua news agency reported.
- FEBRUARY 26, 2010South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
MAN STONED TO DEATH AFTER RAPE OF GIRLFRIEND'S COUSIN
a 44-year-old man was stoned to death by a kangaroo court in Gugulethu, South Africa, after he allegedly raped his girlfriend's 14-year-old cousin.
- JANUARY 1, 2010South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in South Africa on June 6...
The death penalty was abolished in South Africa on June 6...
- JANUARY 1, 2009South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in South Africa on June 6...
The death penalty was abolished in South Africa on June 6...
- APRIL 21, 2008BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
DEATH ROW INMATES SEEK APPEAL COURT REPRIEVE
death row inmates, Michael Molefe of South Africa and Brandson Samson...
- MARCH 11, 2008South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
SOUTH AFRICA. DEATH PENALTY WOULD RENDER CONSTITUTION HOLLOW
the return of the death penalty would turn the Constitution into a "hollow shell",
- MARCH 7, 2008BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA COURT SENTENCES TWO TO DEATH
two men, including a South African national, were sentenced to death by a
- JANUARY 1, 2008South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in South Africa on June 6...
The death penalty was abolished in South Africa on June 6...