South Africa
Practice Relating to Rule 145. Reprisals
Section B. Reasonable notice and measure of last resort
South Africa’s LOAC Manual (1996) states: “Reprisals are only permitted according to strict criteria.”
South Africa’s LOAC Teaching Manual (2008) states:
Reprisals
…
- Under customary international law, reprisals against persons and objects not protected against reprisals can be justified if the reprisals meet certain criteria, including the following:
- Other reasonable means to secure compliance must have been undertaken and have failed (last resort).
…
- There must be reasonable warning that reprisals will be taken unless the illegal acts are stopped.