South Africa Ruling

Western Cape High Court, Cape Town

Basson v S (A413/2006) [2011] ZAWCHC 537 (1 April 2011)

Criminal Law Leave to Appeal Credibility of Witnesses Factual Findings Conviction and Sentence

Citation: [2011] ZAWCHC 537
Status: Ruling
Jurisdiction: South Africa
Court: Western Cape High Court, Cape Town
Panel: N C Erasmus, Samela
Case number: A413/2006

More details

Court: Western Cape High Court, Cape Town
Panel: N C Erasmus, Samela
Case number: A413/2006

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Source document

Holding and result

The court found that the application for leave to appeal was based solely on factual findings and credibility determinations that had already been considered and rejected by both the trial court and the appeal court. The appellant was found to be a poor witness, and his evidence was properly rejected. There were no reasonable prospects that another court would reach a different conclusion on the facts. The court also expressed concern about administrative delays in processing appeal applications, noting that such practices undermine the administration of justice and require urgent attention from both the prosecution and court administration. The application for leave to appeal was dismissed, but the appellant was granted the right to petition the Supreme Court of Appeal within 21 days. The court made further orders to regulate the process and prevent unnecessary delays in the execution of the sentence.

Court disposition

Application for leave to appeal dismissed. Directions given for further process regarding petition and execution of sentence.

Orders

The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
The appellant may petition the President of the Supreme Court of Appeal within 21 days from the date of this order.
If the appellant fails to lodge the petition within the prescribed period, he must report to the registrar of the court within 48 hours after expiry of the period for commencement of his sentence.
If the petition is lodged but is unsuccessful, or the appeal is dismissed, the appellant must report for the execution of his sentence within 48 hours of notification by the prosecution or the registrar.

Material facts

Parties

Anton Basson

Appellant

The State

Respondent

Procedural history

Posture

Leave to Appeal / Application for Leave to Appeal Following Conviction and Sentence

Questions and positions

Legal issues

01
Whether the appellant has reasonable prospects of success on appeal against conviction and sentence.
02
Whether the factual findings and credibility determinations by the trial court were open to challenge on appeal.
03
Whether administrative delays in processing the appeal application affect the appellant's rights.

Party arguments

Applicant: The appellant contended that the trial court erred in its factual findings and credibility assessments, arguing that there were grounds for another court to reach a different conclusion. He submitted that the delay in processing his application for leave to appeal was prejudicial and sought leave to appeal the conviction and sentence.
Respondent: The respondent argued that the application for leave to appeal was based solely on factual disputes already determined by the trial court and confirmed on appeal. The respondent maintained that the appellant was a poor witness and that his evidence was properly rejected. The respondent submitted that there were no reasonable prospects of success and that the application should be dismissed.

Court’s reasoning

Legal principles

01
S v Smith 2012 (1) SACR 567 (SCA)

Leave to appeal will only be granted where there is a reasonable prospect that another court may come to a different conclusion on the facts or law.
02
R v Dhlumayo & Another 1948 (2) SA 677 (A)

Credibility findings by a trial court are entitled to deference and will not be lightly interfered with on appeal unless clearly wrong.

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

The court found that the application for leave to appeal was based solely on factual findings and credibility determinations that had already been considered and rejected by both the trial court and the appeal court. The appellant was found to be a poor witness, and his evidence was properly rejected. There were no reasonable prospects that another court would reach a different conclusion on the facts. The court also expressed concern about administrative delays in processing appeal applications, noting that such practices undermine the administration of justice and require urgent attention from both the prosecution and court administration. The application for leave to appeal was dismissed, but the appellant was granted the right to petition the Supreme Court of Appeal within 21 days. The court made further orders to regulate the process and prevent unnecessary delays in the execution of the sentence.

Obiter and limits

The court criticized the administrative practice of losing documents and failing to process cases efficiently, stating that it brings the administration of justice into disrepute and must be urgently addressed.
The public expects that high-profile matters involving custodial sentences should be dealt with expeditiously, and delays are unacceptable.

Court disposition

Application for leave to appeal dismissed. Directions given for further process regarding petition and execution of sentence.

The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
The appellant may petition the President of the Supreme Court of Appeal within 21 days from the date of this order.
If the appellant fails to lodge the petition within the prescribed period, he must report to the registrar of the court within 48 hours after expiry of the period for commencement of his sentence.
If the petition is lodged but is unsuccessful, or the appeal is dismissed, the appellant must report for the execution of his sentence within 48 hours of notification by the prosecution or the registrar.

Source and reliance status

Western Cape High Court, Cape Town

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Judgment text

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Source document

Western Cape High Court, Cape Town

Ruling

[2011] ZAWCHC 537

IN DIE HOOGGEREGSHOF VAN SUID-AFRIKA

(WES-KAAP HOE HOF, KAAPSTAD)

SAAKNOMMER: A41 3/2006

DATUM: 1 APRIL 2011

In die saak tussen:

ANTON

BASSON …............................................................Appellant

DIE

STAAT …..................................................................Respondent

UITSPRAAK N C ERASMUS, R: Hierdie is 'n aansoek om verlof tot appel teen 'n uitspraak deur ons gelewer op 25 Mei 2010. Dit is vandag die 1ste April 2011. Dit blyk dat die kennisgewing van aansoek om verlof tot appel tydig deur die appellant geliasseer was en beteken was op beide die griffier van hierdie Hof en die Direkteur van Openbare Vervolging. Erens in die administrasie het die stukke verlore gegaan. Dit is 'n praktyk, wat blyk ons, die norm geraak het in hierdie hof. Dit is 'n praktyk waar daar nie aandag geskenk word aan die prosessering van sake nie, wat die regspleging in oneer bring en dit is 'n praktyk waarna, na ons mening, die DOV en die administrasie by die howe ernstige aandag moet geskenk word. Die publiek verwag dat wanneer daar 'n appel gehanteer is en 'n persoon, soos in hierdie geval, wat 'n hoe profiel aangeleentheid

is, gevangenisstraf opgele is dat hy sy vonnis moet begin uitdien, alternatiewelik dat die proses so spoedig moontlik afgehandel word. In hierdie geval is die appellant gevonnis in die streekhof in September 2004 - vyf en 'n half jaar gelede. Die appel is feitlik 'n jaar gelede afgehandel. Daardie vertraging tussen 2004 en 2010 is ook nie verduidelik nie. Dit net ter inleiding. In soverre dit die aansoek om verlof tot appel aanbetref, het ons kortliks in ons uitspraak gehandel met dit waaroor dit hier gaan. Dit is niks anders as 'n suiwer feitebevinding nie. Die objektiewe feite was feitelik gemene saak. Dit is die verduideliking oor hoe daar te werk gegaan was wat die Verhoorhof moes ondersoek en wat tot ons aandag was en ten opsigte van dit het beide die Verhoorhof en onsself gelaat met geloofwaardigheidsbevindings. Dit word nie ernstig aangeval of selfs op appel en ook nou in hierdie aansoek dat die appellant 'n swak getuie was en dat sy getuienis verwerplik was. Na my mening is daar geen kans op sukses vir 'n appel en dat 'n ander hof op die feite tot 'n ander gevolgtrekking sal kom nie. Ek neem aan dat die appellant sy reg sal uitoefen om 'n petisie aan die President van die Hoogste Hof van Appel te loods. Sodanige

petisie moet binne 21 (een-en-twintig) dae geloods word. In die tussentyd is die appellant nog op waarskuwing en ten einde daardie

proses te reel en dat dit reelmatig geskied en dat ons nie onnodige vertragings weer kry nie, is ek van voornemens om ook 'n bevel te maak oor die verdere regulering van daardie proses. Die aansoek om verlof tot appel word derhalwe van die hand gewys. Die appellant, indien hy begerig is om 'n petisie aan die Hoogste

Hof van Appel te rig, moet hy dit binne 21 (een-en-twintig) dae van vandag doen. Indien hy sou versuim om daardie aansoek binne die tydperk te loods, moet hy binne 48 (agt-en-veertig) uur na die verstryking van daardie tydperk, by die griffier van die hof aanmeld sodat die proses kan begin vir sy gevangenissetting. Indien hy sou binne tyd sy aansoek om petisie loods en sodanige aansoek onsuksesvol is na die Hoogste Hof van Appel of die appel

afgewys word by aanhoor daarvan, moet hy binne 48 (agt-en-veertfg) uur nadat hy in kennis gestel is deur of die DOV of die griffier van die hof, aanmeld vir die uitdien van sy vonnis. Dit is die bevel van die Hof. N.C. ERASMUS R SAMELA, R: Ek stem saam. SAMELA, R

UITSPRAAK

N C ERASMUS, R:

Hierdie is 'n aansoek om verlof tot appel teen 'n uitspraak deur ons gelewer op 25 Mei 2010. Dit is vandag die 1ste April 2011. Dit blyk dat die kennisgewing van aansoek om verlof tot appel tydig deur die appellant geliasseer was en beteken was op beide die griffier van hierdie Hof en die Direkteur van Openbare Vervolging. Erens in die administrasie het die stukke verlore gegaan. Dit is 'n praktyk, wat blyk ons, die norm geraak het in hierdie hof. Dit is 'n praktyk waar daar nie aandag geskenk word aan die prosessering van sake nie, wat die regspleging in oneer bring en dit is 'n praktyk waarna, na ons mening, die DOV en die administrasie by die howe ernstige aandag moet geskenk word.

Die publiek verwag dat wanneer daar 'n appel gehanteer is en 'n persoon, soos in hierdie geval, wat 'n hoe profiel aangeleentheid

is, gevangenisstraf opgele is dat hy sy vonnis moet begin uitdien, alternatiewelik dat die proses so spoedig moontlik afgehandel word.

In hierdie geval is die appellant gevonnis in die streekhof in September 2004 - vyf en 'n half jaar gelede. Die appel is feitlik 'n jaar gelede afgehandel. Daardie vertraging tussen 2004 en 2010 is ook nie verduidelik nie. Dit net ter inleiding.

In soverre dit die aansoek om verlof tot appel aanbetref, het ons kortliks in ons uitspraak gehandel met dit waaroor dit hier gaan. Dit is niks anders as 'n suiwer feitebevinding nie. Die objektiewe feite was feitelik gemene saak. Dit is die verduideliking oor hoe daar te werk gegaan was wat die Verhoorhof moes ondersoek en wat tot ons aandag was en ten opsigte van dit het beide die Verhoorhof en onsself gelaat met geloofwaardigheidsbevindings. Dit word nie ernstig aangeval of selfs op appel en ook nou in hierdie aansoek dat die appellant 'n swak getuie was en dat sy getuienis verwerplik was. Na my mening is daar geen kans op sukses vir 'n appel en dat 'n ander hof op die feite tot 'n ander gevolgtrekking sal kom nie.

Ek neem aan dat die appellant sy reg sal uitoefen om 'n petisie aan die President van die Hoogste Hof van Appel te loods. Sodanige

petisie moet binne 21 (een-en-twintig) dae geloods word. In die tussentyd is die appellant nog op waarskuwing en ten einde daardie

proses te reel en dat dit reelmatig geskied en dat ons nie onnodige vertragings weer kry nie, is ek van voornemens om ook 'n bevel te maak oor die verdere regulering van daardie proses.

Die aansoek om verlof tot appel word derhalwe van die hand gewys. Die appellant, indien hy begerig is om 'n petisie aan die Hoogste

Indien hy sou binne tyd sy aansoek om petisie loods en sodanige aansoek onsuksesvol is na die Hoogste Hof van Appel of die appel

afgewys word by aanhoor daarvan, moet hy binne 48 (agt-en-veertfg) uur nadat hy in kennis gestel is deur of die DOV of die griffier van die hof, aanmeld vir die uitdien van sy vonnis.

Dit is die bevel van die Hof.

N.C. ERASMUS R

SAMELA, R: Ek stem saam.

SAMELA, R

Authorities

Authorities used by the court

Cases, legislation, regulations, and constitutional provisions identified in the available record.

S v Smith 2012 (1) SACR 567 (SCA)

Case cited

R v Dhlumayo & Another 1948 (2) SA 677 (A)

Case cited

Case-aware research

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