How long must you serve if you got life sentence in south Africa?

In South Africa, a life sentence does not have a fixed duration; however, the law stipulates that an offender must serve a minimum of 25 years before being eligible for parole. This means they can apply for parole after serving 25 years, but it does not guarantee release, as the decision rests with the parole board. In certain cases, if the sentence is for a particularly serious crime, the individual may serve longer before being considered for parole.