SOUTH AFRICA: ZUMA SAYS 'NO' TO DEATH PENALTY

in South Africa, President Zuma was asked during question time in the National Assembly whether he would consider establishing a judicial commission to probe whether giving the high courts the freedom, after due legal process, to impose the death penalty for murder.
A clearly surprised Zuma responded: "Did I hear the honourable member [say] the freedom to sentence people to death? Is that what he's saying? I don't think I'll take a decision and establish a judicial commission of inquiry on that issue. I will not.
"This is a decision that was taken by the Constitutional Court. And it is left like that, I won't do it. Absolutely, very clear," he said.