A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Arts, University
of the 'Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of
the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts.
Johannesburg, 1998TIlls research report examines the traditional theories of punishment, that is, retribution,
deterrence and rehabilitation, and assesses their practical and empirical relevance in South
Africa at the present time. It is argued that the theories of retribution and deterrence are
largely inadequate to deal with offenders effectively, and consequently little relief in the
crime rate could be anticipated if we were to institute a system of punishment based purely
on punitive considerations. By contrast, it is argued that the theory of rehabilitation offers
a more holistic approach to deal with offenders, and is really the only system which takes
crime control seriously. In sum, it is argued that a system of punishment rooted in
retributive 01' deterrent principles will neither be more just, more effective nor more
humane than a system which has rehabilitation of offenders as its goal
