Why was the death penalty taken away in South Africa?

The death penalty was abolished in South Africa in 1995 following a Constitutional Court ruling that declared it unconstitutional. The court found that capital punishment violated the right to life and the right to dignity, which are enshrined in the new post-apartheid Constitution. The decision was influenced by a broader commitment to human rights and the need to reform the justice system in a way that reflects democratic values. The abolition aimed to promote rehabilitation over retribution in the criminal justice system.