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Legalbrief   |   your legal news hub Friday 14 August 2026

Eight former death-row prisoners to be released

Eight former death-row prisoners – among a batch of 62 prisoners whose sentences were commuted after the death penalty was abolished in 1995 – are to be released this month, according to the Department of Correctional Services.

An SABC News report says the eight have served their mandatory 20 years imprisonment. The death penalty was abolished in July 1995 and the sentences of death-row prisoners were commuted. This was confirmed by the Constitutional Court in November 2006. Full SABC News report