S v Daniels en Anders (SS27/2006) [2010] ZAWCHC 370 (12 March 2010)
- Citation
- [2010] ZAWCHC 370
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- South Africa
- Court
- Western Cape High Court, Cape Town
- Panel
- Veldhuizen
- Case number
- SS27/2006
More details
- Court
- Western Cape High Court, Cape Town
- Panel
- Veldhuizen
- Case number
- SS27/2006
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The court found that the offences involved exceptionally large quantities of prohibited drugs and abalone, which have a devastating effect on the health and welfare of individuals and the broader community. While the accused were not principal dealers, their roles as transporters and custodians were indispensable in the distribution chain. The court considered the personal circumstances of each accused, including age, health, and family responsibilities, but held that these factors did not outweigh the seriousness of the offences. The court imposed substantial terms of imprisonment, with some sentences ordered to run concurrently to mitigate the cumulative effect. The court also granted indemnity to accomplices who testified for the prosecution.
Court disposition
All accused were sentenced to terms of imprisonment, with certain sentences ordered to run concurrently. Accomplices who testified for the prosecution were indemnified.
Orders
- Brian Daniels (Accused 4) is sentenced to 8 years' imprisonment on count 46 and 18 months' imprisonment on count 51, to be served concurrently.
- Fareed Mohammed (Accused 5) is sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment on count 48.
- Winston Blaauw (Accused 10) is sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment on count 47 and 10 years' imprisonment on count 48, with 5 years of the sentence on count 48 to be served concurrently with the sentence on count 47.
- Johan Classen (Accused 11) is sentenced to 8 years' imprisonment on count 47.
- Accomplices who testified for the prosecution are indemnified from prosecution.
02
Material facts
Parties
The State
ApplicantBrian Daniels
DefendantFareed Mohammed
DefendantWinston Blaauw
DefendantJohan Classen
DefendantAmounts and remedies
- Quantity of Cocaine (accused 4): ZAR 521
- Quantity of Ecstasy Tablets (accused 4): ZAR 5,295
- Quantity of Mandrax Tablets (accused 4): ZAR 55,286
- Quantity of Abalone (accused 4): ZAR 776
- Quantity of Mandrax Tablets (accused 5): ZAR 100,000
- Quantity of Mandrax Tablets (accused 10, Count 47): ZAR 65,000
- Quantity of Mandrax Tablets (accused 10, Count 48): ZAR 100,000
- Quantity of Mandrax Tablets (accused 11): ZAR 65,000
03
Procedural history
Posture
Criminal Law Trial / Sentencing
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
What is the appropriate sentence for each accused convicted of trafficking and possession of large quantities of prohibited drugs and abalone.
- 02
How should the court weigh the personal circumstances of each accused against the seriousness of the offences.
- 03
Should sentences be served concurrently or consecutively in light of the cumulative effect.
Party arguments
- Applicant
- The prosecution argued that the offences involved substantial quantities of Mandrax, cocaine, Ecstasy tablets, and abalone, which have a severe impact on the community. The State emphasized the need for deterrent sentences due to the prevalence and harm caused by these substances, especially in the Western Cape. The prosecution submitted that the accused played indispensable roles in the distribution chain, even if they were not the main dealers.
- Respondent
- The accused presented personal circumstances in mitigation, including age, health problems (such as heart bypasses, high blood pressure, diabetes), family responsibilities, and lack of prior convictions. They argued that their roles were limited to transportation or storage and that they were not principal dealers, seeking leniency in sentencing.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act 140 of 1992
Sentences for drug trafficking must reflect the seriousness of the offence and the harm caused to society, but also consider the personal circumstances of the accused.
- 02
S v Moswathupa 2007 (3) SA 583 (SCA)
Where multiple offences are committed, the cumulative effect of sentences should not be unduly harsh, and concurrent sentences may be appropriate to achieve a just outcome.
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The court found that the offences involved exceptionally large quantities of prohibited drugs and abalone, which have a devastating effect on the health and welfare of individuals and the broader community. While the accused were not principal dealers, their roles as transporters and custodians were indispensable in the distribution chain. The court considered the personal circumstances of each accused, including age, health, and family responsibilities, but held that these factors did not outweigh the seriousness of the offences. The court imposed substantial terms of imprisonment, with some sentences ordered to run concurrently to mitigate the cumulative effect. The court also granted indemnity to accomplices who testified for the prosecution.
Obiter and limits
- The prevalence of Mandrax in the Western Cape makes offences involving this drug particularly serious and deserving of deterrent sentences.
- The rehabilitation of drug addicts and combating drug distribution require coordinated efforts from various disciplines within the State.
- The impact of drug-related offences extends beyond the individual user to the entire community, affecting economic wellbeing and social progress.
Court disposition
All accused were sentenced to terms of imprisonment, with certain sentences ordered to run concurrently. Accomplices who testified for the prosecution were indemnified.
- Brian Daniels (Accused 4) is sentenced to 8 years' imprisonment on count 46 and 18 months' imprisonment on count 51, to be served concurrently.
- Fareed Mohammed (Accused 5) is sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment on count 48.
- Winston Blaauw (Accused 10) is sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment on count 47 and 10 years' imprisonment on count 48, with 5 years of the sentence on count 48 to be served concurrently with the sentence on count 47.
- Johan Classen (Accused 11) is sentenced to 8 years' imprisonment on count 47.
- Accomplices who testified for the prosecution are indemnified from prosecution.
Source and reliance status
Western Cape High Court, Cape Town
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.
Western Cape High Court, Cape Town
Judgment
IN DIE HOE HOF VAN SUID-AFRIKA
(WES-KAAP HOE HOF, KAAPSTAD)
SAAKNOMMER: SS27/2006
DATUM: 12 MAART 2010
In die saak tussen:
DIE
STAAT
en
4.
BRIAN
DANIELS
5.
FAREED
MOHAMMED
WINSTON
BLAAUW
11.
JOHAN
CLASSEN
V
O N N I S
VELDHUIZEN. R:
Wat die oortredings waaraan julle skuldig bevind is, betref val dit dadelik op dat hier besonder groot hoeveelhede Mandrax of dan
metakoloon betrokke is. Die Wet maak voorsiening vir tronkstraf van tot 25 jaar of 'n boete tesame met daardie gevangenisstraf. Ek moet dadelik byvoeg dat Bylae 2 van die Wet dwelms lys wat meer skadelik is as Mandrax. Aan die ander kant is dit ook 'n feit dat Mandrax, veral in die Wes-Kaap, meer algemeen in omloop is as daardie meer skadelike middels.
Die misdaad waaraan beskuldigde 4 skuldig bevind is, sluit dan ook kokaine in wat in Deel II van Bylae 2 gelys word en Ecstasy tablette.
Die hoeveelhede betrokke is nie onaansienlik nie. Dit is vir my duidelik dat julle nie die hoofhandelaars is nie. Julie het die
dwelms vervoer of bewaar namens die smokkelaars. Hoewel dit miskien julle morele blaamwaardigheid verminder, is dit andersyds so dat julle onmisbare skakels in die ketting is om die dwelms te versprei.
Wat hierdie oortredings so verfoeilik maak, is die feit dat mense se gesondheid en die welsyn van hulle gesinne en van die gemeenskap
opgeoffer word vir geldelike gewin. Die gevolge en effek van verslawing aan hierdie dwelms strek veel wyer as net die gebruiker
daarvan. Dit het 'n nadelige effek op die hele gemeenskap. Verskeie dissiplines moet deur die Staat aangewend word om die verspreiding
van die dwelms te bekamp en om dwelmverslaafdes te rehabiliteer. Dit het 'n remmende effek op die ekonomiese welstand en vooruitgang van die gemeenskap in geheel. Oortredings van hierdie aard omhels dus veel meer as net die belange van die verskaffer en die gebruik van die dwelms.
Beskuldigde 4 u skuldig bevind omdat u handel gedryf het in 521 gram kokame, 5295 Ecstasy tablette en 55 286 Mandrax tablette (Aanklag 46). U is ook skuldig bevind op aanklag 51 dat u 776 perlemoen vir kommersiele doel sonder 'n permit besit het. U is tans 54 jaar oud en is getroud met twee groot kinders. Gesondheidgewys gaan dit nie so goed met u nie. U het twee hartomleidings gehad en lei aan hoe bloedsuiker.
Beskuldigde 5, u is 'n 42-jarige geskeide man met sewe kinders by sewe vrouens. U het sonder 'n pa grootgeword. Ek is meegedeel dat u aan hoe bloeddruk ly en u rug beseer het in 'n motorongeluk. U skuldigbevinding behels die handel in 100 000 Mandrax tablette (Aanklag 48).
Beskuldigde 10 u is skuldig bevind op twee aanklagte, naamlik, aanklag 47 en 48. Die twee aanklagte behels die handel in 65 000 en 100 000 Mandrax tablette. Wat u geval onderskei van die ander is dat u skaars uit was op borgtog op aanklag 47, toe u minder as 'n maand later die tweede oortreding gepleeg het. Ek beskou dit as erg verswarend. U is 39 jaar oud en ongetroud. Ek is meegedeel u moeder is bedleend en u vader ly aan kanker. U onderhou u agtjarige kind.
Beskuldigde 11, u is tans 41 jaar oud en geskei. Uit u huwelik is drie kinders, almal seuns, gebore. Hulle is tans 13 jaar, 10 jaar en ses jaar oud en bly by hulle moeder. U het gewerk as 'n huurmotorbestuurder en het R2 000 per week verdien. U het getuig dat u aan hoe bloeddruk ly en 'n diabeet is. Aanklag 47, waaraan u skuldig bevind is, behels die handel in 65 000 Mandrax tablette.
Ek gaan u almal as eerste oortreders behandel en al die omstandighede in ag genome meen ek dat die volgende vonnisse gepas is:
Beskuldigde 4 op aanklag 46 word u gevonnis tot AGT (8) JAAR GEVANGENISSTRAF. Op aanklag 51 AGTIEN (18) MAANDE GEVANGENISSTRAF. Dit word gelas dat hierdie twee strawwe samelopend uitgedien word.
Beskuldigde 5 op aanklag 48 word u gevonnis tot TIEN (10) JAAR GEVANGENISSTRAF.
Beskuldigde 10 op aanklag 47 TIEN (10) JAAR GEVANGENISSTRAF. Op aanklag 48 TIEN (10) JAAR GEVANGENISSTRAF. Die kumulatiewe effek van die twee vonnisse maak dit 'n baie swaar een en om dit te versag gelas ek dat vyf (5) jaar van die vonnis op aanklag 48 met die vonnis op aanklag 47 uitgedien word.
Beskuldigde 11 op aanklag 47 word u gevonnis tot AGT (8) JAAR GEVANGENISSTRAF.
Laastens word die medepligtiges wat getuig het teen vervolging gevrywaar. Volledigheidshalwe is die getuies Stephanus J van tonder, Jonothan Wort alias Hopper, Gregory Petersen alias Pikke, Elton Petersen, Hilton Scott alias Hammerkop, Neville Koopman alias Klein Calvin en Ruben Heyns alias (onduidelik).
VELDHUIZEN. R
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