S v Duiker (A2094/04) [2006] ZAGPHC 141 (19 January 2006)
- Citation
- [2006] ZAGPHC 141
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- South Africa
- Court
- High Courts - Gauteng
- Panel
- F G Preller, A de Vos
- Case number
- A2094/04
More details
- Court
- High Courts - Gauteng
- Panel
- F G Preller, A de Vos
- Case number
- A2094/04
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The regional court did not have jurisdiction to impose sentence for the rape of a minor under section 51(1) of Act 105 of 1977. The sentence imposed is therefore a nullity and must be set aside. The appeal against conviction does not succeed, and the matter must be referred to the High Court for proper sentencing in accordance with the statutory requirements. The discretion of the sentencing court is not affected by these proceedings.
Court disposition
Appeal against conviction not upheld; sentence set aside and matter referred to High Court for sentencing.
Orders
- The appeal is struck from the roll.
- The sentence imposed by the regional court is set aside and replaced with the following order: 'In terms of section 52(1) of Act 105 of 1977, proceedings are stopped and the accused is referred to the High Court with jurisdiction for sentencing as contemplated in section 51(1) of the said Act.'
02
Material facts
Parties
Ben Moleko Duiker
AppellantThe State
Respondent03
Procedural history
Posture
Criminal Appeal / Appeal Against Conviction and Sentence
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether the regional court had jurisdiction to impose sentence for rape of a minor under section 51(1) of Act 105 of 1977.
- 02
Whether the conviction and sentence should be set aside or referred to the High Court for proper sentencing.
Party arguments
- Applicant
- The appellant challenged the conviction and sentence imposed by the regional court, arguing that the sentence was not lawfully imposed as the court lacked jurisdiction under section 51(1) of Act 105 of 1977, given the age of the complainant and the seriousness of the offence.
- Respondent
- The respondent maintained that the conviction was sound but conceded that the regional court did not have the authority to impose sentence for such an offence and that the matter should have been referred to the High Court for sentencing as required by statute.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
Section 51(1) and 52(1)(b)(i) of Act 105 of 1977
Where an accused is convicted of rape of a minor as contemplated in Part 1 of Schedule 2 to Act 105 of 1977, the regional court must refer the accused to the High Court for sentencing under section 51(1).
- 02
DOV, Tvl v Makwetsja TPD case no A391/2002
A sentence imposed by a court lacking jurisdiction is a nullity and must be set aside.
- 03
Pule Liau v S 2005(1) SASV 498 (T)
If the appeal against conviction is not upheld, the appeal is struck from the roll and the sentence is set aside, with the matter referred for proper sentencing.
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The regional court did not have jurisdiction to impose sentence for the rape of a minor under section 51(1) of Act 105 of 1977. The sentence imposed is therefore a nullity and must be set aside. The appeal against conviction does not succeed, and the matter must be referred to the High Court for proper sentencing in accordance with the statutory requirements. The discretion of the sentencing court is not affected by these proceedings.
Obiter and limits
- The High Court's discretion in sentencing is not influenced by the proceedings in this appeal.
- The procedure for handling such cases is clearly set out in Pule Liau v S, and must be followed to ensure lawful sentencing.
Court disposition
Appeal against conviction not upheld; sentence set aside and matter referred to High Court for sentencing.
- The appeal is struck from the roll.
- The sentence imposed by the regional court is set aside and replaced with the following order: 'In terms of section 52(1) of Act 105 of 1977, proceedings are stopped and the accused is referred to the High Court with jurisdiction for sentencing as contemplated in section 51(1) of the said Act.'
Source and reliance status
High Courts - Gauteng
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.
High Courts - Gauteng
Judgment
IN DIE HOOGGEREGSHOF VAN SUID-AFRIKA /ES
(TRANSVAALSE PROVINSIALE AFDELING)
SAAK NO: A2094/04
DATUM: 19/1/2006
NIE RAPPORTEERBAAR
IN DIE SAAK TUSSEN:
BEN MOLEKO DUIKER APPELLANT
EN
DIE STAAT RESPONDENT
UITSPRAAK
PRELLER, R
Die appellant is in die streekhof skuldig bevind op 'n aanklag van onsedelike aanranding en op een van verkragting. Beide klaagsters was tydens die voorval ongeveer 8 jaar oud. Hy is op aanklag 1 gevonnis tot vyf jaar gevangenisstraf en op aanklag 2 tot vyftien jaar.
Weens die ouderdom van die klaagster is die oortreding in aanklag 2 een soos bedoel in deel 1 van die tweede bylae tot Wet 105 van 1977. Ingevolge artikel 51(1) van die gemelde wet moes 'n vonnis van lewenslange gevangenisstraf opgelê gewees het, onderhewig aan die kwalifikasie vervat in subartikel (3).
Ingevolge artikel 52(1)(b)(i) van die wet was die verhoorhof verplig om die appellant na die hooggeregshof te verwys vir vonnis en het geen bevoegdheid gehad om 'n vonnis op te lê nie. (DOV, Tvl v Makwetsja TPD saak no A391/2002.) Die vonnis is gevolglik nietig (ibid).
Hoe so 'n saak hanteer moet word is oorweeg in Pule Liau v S 2005(1) SASV 498 (T). As die hof oortuig is dat die appèl teen die skuldigbevinding moet slaag, word dit aangehoor en die skuldigbevinding en vonnis tersyde gestel. As die hof nie so oortuig is nie, word die appèl van die rol geskrap en, ingevolge die hof se hersieningsbevoegdheid kragtens artikel 304(4) van die Strafproseswet, word die streekhof se vonnis tersyde gestel en die bevel word gegee wat die streekhof moes gegee het.
In hierdie geval is ek nie so oortuig nie. Ek beklemtoon dat dit geen aanduiding is dat die uitoefening van die hof waarna die saak vir vonnis verwys word se diskresie in enige opsig deur die verrigtinge in hierdie hof beïnvloed moet word nie. Dit is vir daardie hof om te besluit wat met die skuldigbevinding in die streekhof moet gebeur.
Ek maak die volgende bevel:
1. Die appèl word van die rol geskrap.
2. Die vonnis wat die streekhof opgelê het word tersyde gestel en vervang met die volgende bevel:
"Ingevolge artikel 52(1) van Wet 105 van 1997 word die verrigtinge gestaak en word die beskuldigde verwys na die hooggeregshof wat regsbevoegdheid het vir vonnis soos beoog in artikel 51(1) van die gemelde wet."
F G PRELLER
REGTER
VAN DIE HOOGGEREGSHOF
Ek stem saam
A DE VOS
A2094-2004
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