Security Council resolution 615 (1988) [on death sentences imposed on 6 South Africans]
Symbol: S/RES/615(1988)
Date: 1988-06-17
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/43 [10] APARTHEID
Subjects: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT|SOUTH AFRICA
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: ARGENTINA
vote: yes
country: BRAZIL
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: GERMANY, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF
vote: yes
country: ALGERIA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: ITALY
vote: yes
country: JAPAN
vote: yes
country: NEPAL
vote: yes
country: SENEGAL
vote: yes
country: USSR
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes
country: YUGOSLAVIA
vote: yes
country: ZAMBIA
vote: yes

Resolution 615 (1988)
of 17 June 1988

The Security Council,

Recalling its resolutions 503 (1982) of 9 April 1982, 525
(1982) of 7 December 1982, 533 (1983) of 7 June 1983,
547 (1984) of 13 January 1984 and 610 (1988) of 16 March
1988 in which, inter alia, it expressed its grave concern that
the Pretoria régime’s practice of sentencing to death and
executing its opponents has adverse consequences on the
search for a peaceful resolution of the South African
situation,

Gravely concerned at the deteriorating situation in South
Africa, the worsening human suffering resulting from the
apartheid system and, inter alia, the South African régime’s
renewed state of emergency on 9 June 1988, its imposition
on 24 February 1988 of severe restrictions on eighteen anti-apartheid and labour organizations and eighteen individuals
committed to peaceful forms of struggle and the harassment
and detention of church leaders on 29 February, all of which
further undermine the possibilities of a peaceful resolution
of the South African situation,

Having considered the question of the death sentences
passed on 12 December 1985 in South Africa on Mojalefa
Reginald Sefatsa, Reid Malebo Mokoena, Oupa Moses
Diniso, Theresa Ramashamola, Duma Joseph Khumalo and
Francis Don Mokhesi, known as the Sharpeville Six, as
well as the decision to execute them,

Conscious that the Court proceedings of the Sharpeville
Six show that none of the six young South Africans
convicted of murder was found by the Court to have causedthe actual death of the Councillor and that they were
convicted of murder and sentenced to death only because
the Court found that they had a “common purpose” with the
actual perpetrators,

Deeply concerned at the decision on 13 June 1988 of the
Pretoria Supreme Court to reject an appeal to reopen the
case to ensure a fair trial,

Deeply concerned also at the Pretoria régime’s decision
to execute the Sharpeville Six in defiance of world-wide
appeals,

Convinced that these executions, if carried out, will
further inflame an already grave situation in South Africa,

1. Calls once again upon the South African authorities
to stay execution and commute the death sentences imposed
on the Sharpeville Six;

2. Urges all States and organizations to use their
influence and take urgent measures, in conformity with the
Charter of the United Nations, the resolutions of the
Security Council and relevant international instruments, to
save the lives of the Sharpeville Six.

Adopted unanimously at the
2817th meeting.