United Nations Security Council Resolution 503
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
503, adopted unanimously on April 9, 1982, after reaffirming Resolution 473
(1980), the Council expressed its concern at the death sentences
issued by the Transvaal Provincial
Division of the Supreme Court of South Africa
(now known as the North Gauteng High Court
) against Ncimbithi Johnson Lubisi, Petrus Tsepo Mashigo and Naphtali Manana, all of whom were members of the African National Congress
.
The resolution called upon the Government of South Africa
to commute the death sentences after hearing of the confirmation of them at the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. It also urged all Member States to use their influence to assist in the matter.
After the adoption of Resolution 503, the death sentences of the men were commuted to life imprisonment
; all were subsequently released during the fall of apartheid.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
503, adopted unanimously on April 9, 1982, after reaffirming Resolution 473
United Nations Security Council Resolution 473
United Nations Security Council Resolution 473, adopted unanimously on June 13, 1980, after recalling resolutions 392 , 417 , 418 , 454 and 466 and letters from the Committee for South Africa, the Council expressed its concern and condemned South Africa for the killing of protesters, including...
(1980), the Council expressed its concern at the death sentences
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
issued by the Transvaal Provincial
Transvaal Province
Transvaal Province was a province of the Union of South Africa from 1910 to 1961, and of its successor, the Republic of South Africa, from 1961 until the end of apartheid in 1994 when a new constitution subdivided it.-History:...
Division of the Supreme Court of South Africa
Supreme Court of South Africa
The Supreme Court of South Africa was a superior court of law in South Africa from 1910 to 1996. It was made up of various provincial and local divisions with jurisdiction over specific geographical areas, and an Appellate Division which was the highest appellate court in the country...
(now known as the North Gauteng High Court
North Gauteng High Court
The North Gauteng High Court is a division of the High Court of South Africa...
) against Ncimbithi Johnson Lubisi, Petrus Tsepo Mashigo and Naphtali Manana, all of whom were members of the African National Congress
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
.
The resolution called upon the Government of South Africa
Government of South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a constitutional democracy with a three-tier system of government and an independent judiciary, operating in a nearly unique system that combines aspects of parliamentary and presidential systems. Legislative authority is held by the Parliament of South Africa...
to commute the death sentences after hearing of the confirmation of them at the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. It also urged all Member States to use their influence to assist in the matter.
After the adoption of Resolution 503, the death sentences of the men were commuted to life imprisonment
Life imprisonment
Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life...
; all were subsequently released during the fall of apartheid.
See also
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 501 to 600 (1982 – 1987)
- Resolutions 525United Nations Security Council Resolution 525United Nations Security Council Resolution 525, adopted unanimously on December 7, 1982, after hearing of the death sentences on Anthony Tsotsobe, Johannes Shabangu and David Moise, the Council expressed its concern at the sentences passed by the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa, in addition...
, 533United Nations Security Council Resolution 533United Nations Security Council Resolution 533, adopted unanimously on June 7, 1983, after reaffirming Resolution 525 , the Council expressed its concern at the death sentences issued to Thelle Simon Mogoerane, Jerry Semano Mosololi and Marcus Thabo Motaung, all members of the African National...
and 547United Nations Security Council Resolution 547United Nations Security Council Resolution 547, adopted unanimously on January 13, 1984, after reaffirming previous resolutions on the topic, the Council expressed its concern at the death sentences issued to Malesela Benjamin Maloise, all members of the African National Congress.The resolution... - South Africa under apartheid