Life imprisonment in South Africa and the world

In 1994 South Africa had some 400 prisoners serving life imprisonment. By 2020 there are more than 16 000 prisoners serving life - fast approaching one in five sentenced prisoners. Nowhere else in the world has the use of life imprisonment increased so rapidly than in South Africa – an increase of some 4 000% - and this was a direct result of the introduction of mandatory minimum sentences in 1998 and later on giving Regional Courts the power to impose life imprisonment.

South Africa is, however, not the only country in the world using life imprisonment but life imprisonment does not mean the same everywhere. In South Africa people sentenced to life imprisonment have a right to be considered for release on parole after a specified period has been served but many states have life imprisonment without the option of parole. Even in South Africa, the meaning of life imprisonment has changed significantly over the past 100 years.

Please join us for a 90-minute webinar on life imprisonment in South Africa and further afield.