S v Brown (15/2008) [2008] ZANCHC 17 (28 March 2008)
- Citation
- [2008] ZANCHC 17
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- South Africa
- Court
- Northern Cape High Court, Kimberley
- Panel
- C J Olivier, H J Lacock
- Case number
- 15/2008
More details
- Court
- Northern Cape High Court, Kimberley
- Panel
- C J Olivier, H J Lacock
- Case number
- 15/2008
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The court held that the conviction and sentence under the repealed Road Traffic Act were lawful because the offence was committed while the Act was still in force. However, the suspended sentence condition referencing the repealed provision was inappropriate, as it would be impossible for the accused to contravene a provision no longer in force. The proper approach is to reference the equivalent provision in the current statute, namely section 65(1)(a) of the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996. The conviction was confirmed, and the sentence was amended to suspend half of the sentence on condition that the accused is not convicted of contravening section 65(1)(a) of Act 93 of 1996 during the period of suspension.
Court disposition
Conviction confirmed; sentence amended to correct the suspended sentence condition.
Orders
- The conviction is confirmed.
- The sentence is amended to read: 'R3,000.00 (Three Thousand Rand) or 12 (Twelve) months imprisonment, half of which is suspended for 3 (Three) years on condition that the accused is not convicted of contravening section 65(1)(a) of the National Road Traffic Act, 93 of 1996, committed during the period of suspension.'
02
Material facts
Parties
The State
ApplicantDavid Brown
RespondentAmounts and remedies
- Fine Imposed: ZAR 3,000
03
Procedural history
Posture
Criminal Review / Automatic Review After Conviction and Sentence
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether the suspended sentence condition referring to repealed statutory provisions is valid and appropriate.
- 02
Whether the conviction and sentence imposed for an offence under a repealed statute are lawful given the timing of the offence and prosecution.
Party arguments
- Applicant
- The State prosecuted the accused for contravening section 122(1)(a) of the Road Traffic Act 29 of 1989, which was in force at the time of the offence. The conviction and sentence were imposed accordingly. The suspended sentence condition referred to both the repealed provision and any similar provision in other legislation.
- Respondent
- The accused pleaded guilty and did not contest the charge or sentence. No substantive argument was advanced regarding the suspended sentence condition or the applicability of the repealed statute.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
section 12 of the Interpretation Act 33 of 1957
An accused may be convicted and sentenced under a repealed statute if the offence was committed while the statute was in force.
- 02
General principles of criminal law and sentencing
Suspended sentence conditions must refer to operative statutory provisions; referencing repealed provisions in conditions is meaningless.
- 03
Nationale Padverkeerswet, 93 of 1996
Where a new statute contains equivalent provisions, suspended sentence conditions should refer to the current law.
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The court held that the conviction and sentence under the repealed Road Traffic Act were lawful because the offence was committed while the Act was still in force. However, the suspended sentence condition referencing the repealed provision was inappropriate, as it would be impossible for the accused to contravene a provision no longer in force. The proper approach is to reference the equivalent provision in the current statute, namely section 65(1)(a) of the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996. The conviction was confirmed, and the sentence was amended to suspend half of the sentence on condition that the accused is not convicted of contravening section 65(1)(a) of Act 93 of 1996 during the period of suspension.
Obiter and limits
- It would be a waste of time to remit the matter to the magistrate for correction of the suspended sentence condition, as the error is purely technical and easily rectified.
- There is no indication that the relevant provisions of the National Road Traffic Act will be repealed within the period of suspension.
Court disposition
Conviction confirmed; sentence amended to correct the suspended sentence condition.
- The conviction is confirmed.
- The sentence is amended to read: 'R3,000.00 (Three Thousand Rand) or 12 (Twelve) months imprisonment, half of which is suspended for 3 (Three) years on condition that the accused is not convicted of contravening section 65(1)(a) of the National Road Traffic Act, 93 of 1996, committed during the period of suspension.'
Source and reliance status
Northern Cape High Court, Kimberley
This page organises the available record for research. Confirm quotations, current status, and subsequent treatment against the official source before relying on the case.
Judgment reading view
Judgment text
The complete available source text.
Northern Cape High Court, Kimberley
Judgment
IN DIE HOOGGEREGSHOF VAN SUID-AFRIKA
(Noord-Kaapse Afdeling)
Saak No: 15/2008
Landdroshofsaakno: B09/2008
Datum gelewer: 28/0 3/2008
In die saak tussen:
Die Staat
en
David Brown
Coram: Lacock R et Olivier R
UITSPRAAK
OP HERSIENING
Olivier R:
Die beskuldigde in hierdie aangeleentheid is skuldig bevind aan ân oortreding van artikel 122(1)(a) van die Padverkeerswet, 29 van 1989. Hy is gevonnis tot ân boete van R3 000,00 of 12 maande gevangenisstraf, waarvan die helfte voorwaardelik opgeskort is vir ân periode van 3 jaar.
Die saak dien nou op outomatiese hersiening. Die beskuldigde het skuldig gepleit en die ondervraging en skuldigbevinding blyk in orde te wees.
Wat die vonnis betref, is dit net die bewoording van die opskortingsvoorwaarde wat oorweging verdien. Dit lui dat âdie beskuldigde nie weer skuldig bevind word aan oortreding artikel 122(1)(a) Wet 29/1989 of enige gelykluidende bepaling van enige ander wet gepleeg gedurende die tyd van opskorting nieâ.
Die oortreding is in Maart 1997 gepleeg, toe die voormelde Wet nog gegeld het. Die betrokke bepalings van daardie Wet is egter gedurende 2000 herroep deur die bepalings van die Nasionale Padverkeerswet, 93 van 1996, waarvan artikel 65(1)(a) gelykluidende bepalings aan dié van artikel 122(1)(a) van die vorige Wet bevat. Die verhoor van hierdie aangeleentheid het egter, om die een of ander rede wat nie uit die oorkonde blyk nie, eers op 7 Januarie 2008 geskied.
Omdat die onderhawige oortreding gepleeg is op ân stadium toe die vorige Wet nog van toepassing was, was dit in orde om die beskuldigde aan te kla en skuldig te bevind aan ân oortreding van die herroepe bepalings van die Padverkeerswet (sien artikel 12 van die Interpretasiewet, 33 van 1957).
Dit kom my egter sinneloos voor om nou na die herroepe bepalings te verwys in ân opskortingsvoorwaarde. Die feit is dat, indien ân oortreding nou gepleeg sou word, die beskuldigde in elk geval nie aan ân oortreding van die herroepe bepalings skuldig bevind sou kon word nie, omdat dit reeds herroep is en nie van toepassing sou kon wees op ân oortreding wat gepleeg is nadat dit herroep is nie.
Dit is duidelik wat die landdros probeer bereik het met die gedeelte van die opskortingsvoorwaarde wat verwys na âgelykluidendeâ bepalings van ander wetgewing, maar ek meen dat die opskortingsvoorwaarde eenvoudig moes verwys het na die bepalings van artikel 65(1)(a) van die Nasionale Padverkeerswet. Daar is geen suggestie dat hierdie bepalings binne die volgende drie jaar herroep gaan word nie.
Die vonnis is origens in orde. Dit sou na my oordeel ân onnodige vermorsing van tyd wees om die saak na die landdros terug te verwys hieroor en gevolglik word die volgende bevele hierin gemaak:
Die skuldigbevinding word bekragtig.
Die vonnis word gewysig om soos volg te lees:
âR3 000,00 (Drie Duisend Rand) of 12 (Twaalf) maande gevangenisstraf, waarvan die helfte opgeskort word vir 3 (Drie) jaar op voorwaarde dat die beskuldigde nie skuldig bevind word aan ân oortreding van artikel 65(1)(a) van die Nasionale Padverkeerswet, 93 van 1996, gepleeg gedurende die tydperk van opskorting, nieâ.
________
C
J OLIVIER
REGTER
NOORD-KAAPSE AFDELING
Ek stem saam.
H
J LACOCK
NOORD-KAAPSE
AFDELING
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