By Brig Dirk Lambrechts
Photos/images courtesy of Freepik
Question
A reader has asked Pollex what the implications are when courts hand down a future “non-parole” period as part of a convicted person’s sentence.
Answer
Pollex will kick off his answer by referencing the relevant legal provision applicable to the answer. Section 276B of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 (“the CPA”) (as amended), provides as follows:
“Fixing of non-parole-period
(1)(a) If a court sentences a person convicted of an offence to imprisonment for a period of two years or longer, the court may, as part of the sentence, fix a period during which the person shall not be placed on parole.
(b) Such period shall be referred to as the non-parole-period, and may not exceed two-thirds of the term of imprisonment imposed or 25 years, whichever is the shorter.
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[This is only an extract of an article published in Servamus: June 2026. This article is available for purchase.]