S v Jeneker (070036) [2008] ZAECHC 120 (8 May 2008)
- Citation
- [2008] ZAECHC 120
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- South Africa
- Court
- High Courts - Eastern Cape
- Panel
- Liebenberg R, Van der Byl WR
- Case number
- 070036
More details
- Court
- High Courts - Eastern Cape
- Panel
- Liebenberg R, Van der Byl WR
- Case number
- 070036
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The reviewing court found that the magistrate committed a procedural irregularity by convicting the accused of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after the accused denied intent during questioning under section 112(1)(b) of the Criminal Procedure Act. The magistrate was required, in terms of section 113, to enter a plea of not guilty and proceed to trial. The failure to do so rendered the conviction and sentence invalid. Given the extended delay and the magistrate's ongoing ill health, the court ordered that the conviction and sentence be set aside and the matter be referred back to the trial court for proper procedure, with provision for another magistrate to preside if necessary.
Court disposition
Conviction and sentence set aside; matter remitted to trial court for plea of not guilty and continuation of trial.
Orders
- The conviction and sentence are set aside.
- The matter is referred back to the magistrate with the instruction to enter a plea of not guilty in terms of section 113 of the Criminal Procedure Act and to proceed with the trial.
- If the magistrate is unavailable due to illness, the matter may be heard by another magistrate in accordance with the above directions.
02
Material facts
Parties
Die Staat
RespondentAndries Jeneker
Applicant03
Procedural history
Posture
Review Application / Review of Magistrate's Conviction and Sentence
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether the magistrate erred by convicting the accused of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm despite his denial of intent during questioning under section 112(1)(b) of the Criminal Procedure Act.
- 02
Whether the magistrate should have acted in terms of section 113 of the Criminal Procedure Act after the accused's denial of intent.
- 03
Whether the conviction and sentence should be set aside due to the procedural irregularity.
Party arguments
- Applicant
- The accused pleaded guilty to assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm but denied, when questioned by the magistrate under section 112(1)(b) of the Criminal Procedure Act, that he intended to seriously injure the complainant. Despite this denial, the magistrate convicted him as charged. The accused submits that this constitutes a procedural irregularity and that the magistrate should have invoked section 113, entering a plea of not guilty and proceeding to trial.
- Respondent
- No formal argument was presented by the State in the review proceedings. The matter was referred for review due to the irregularity identified by the reviewing judge, and no response was received from the magistrate despite inquiries.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, sections 112(1)(b) and 113
Where an accused, during questioning under section 112(1)(b) of the Criminal Procedure Act, denies an essential element of the offence, the magistrate must act in terms of section 113 by entering a plea of not guilty and proceeding to trial.
- 02
S v Nkosi 1980 (3) SA 560 (T)
A conviction based on a guilty plea is irregular if the accused's responses during questioning do not support all elements of the offence.
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The reviewing court found that the magistrate committed a procedural irregularity by convicting the accused of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after the accused denied intent during questioning under section 112(1)(b) of the Criminal Procedure Act. The magistrate was required, in terms of section 113, to enter a plea of not guilty and proceed to trial. The failure to do so rendered the conviction and sentence invalid. Given the extended delay and the magistrate's ongoing ill health, the court ordered that the conviction and sentence be set aside and the matter be referred back to the trial court for proper procedure, with provision for another magistrate to preside if necessary.
Obiter and limits
- It is in the interests of sound administration of justice that the matter be dealt with promptly, even in the absence of the magistrate's reasons.
- The ongoing delays due to the magistrate's ill health necessitate provision for another magistrate to preside if she remains unavailable.
Court disposition
Conviction and sentence set aside; matter remitted to trial court for plea of not guilty and continuation of trial.
- The conviction and sentence are set aside.
- The matter is referred back to the magistrate with the instruction to enter a plea of not guilty in terms of section 113 of the Criminal Procedure Act and to proceed with the trial.
- If the magistrate is unavailable due to illness, the matter may be heard by another magistrate in accordance with the above directions.
Source and reliance status
High Courts - Eastern Cape
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 - Eastern Cape
Judgment
FORM A
FILING SHEET FOR SOUTH EASTERN
CAPE LOCAL DIVISION JUDGMENT
PARTIES:
DIE
STAAT
TEEN
ANDRIES
JENEKER
Case Number: 070036
High Court: SUIDOOS-KAAPSE PLAASLIKE AFDELING
DATE HEARD: 8 May 2008
DATE DELIVERED: 8 May 2008
JUDGE(S): LIEBENBERG R,
VAN DER BYL WR
LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES â
Appearances:
For the Appellants(s):
for the Respondent(s):
Instructing attorneys:
Appellant(s)
Respondent(s):
CASE INFORMATION -
Nature of proceedings : Review
Topic:
Key Words:
IN DIE HOOGGEREGSHOF VAN SUID-AFRIKA
(SUIDOOS-KAAPSE PLAASLIKE AFDELING)
HERSIENINGSNR: 070036
DATUM GELEWER:
IN DIE SAAK TUSSEN:
ANDRIES JENEKER
HERSIENINGS UITSPRAAK
LIEBENBERG, R:
Die beskuldigde was voor die landdros Hankey aangekla van aanranding met die opset om ernstige liggaamlike leed te berokken. Die beskuldigde het skuldig gepleit. Tydens ondervraging deur die landdros ingevolge Artikel 112 (1) (b) van Wet 51 van 1977 (die âWetâ) het sy aan die beskuldigde gevra of hy tydens die aanranding die bedoeling gehad het om die klaagster ernstig te beseer. Op hierdie vraag het die beskuldigde ontkennend geantwoord. Die landdros het hom nogtans skuldig bevind soos aangekla. Die optrede van die landdros stel Å onreëlmatigheid daar. Sy moes ooreenkomstig artikel 113 van die wet opgetree het. Weens die vonnis deur die landdros opgelê, is die saak op 27 Maart 2007 voor my gelê vir hersiening.
Op grond van die gemelde onreëlmatigheid het ek Šnavraag aan die landdros op die voormelde datum gerig. Geen antwoord was nog van die landdros ontvang teen 5 Mei 2008, meer as Šjaar later, nie.
Die Hooflanddros van Port Elizabeth het Å skrywe aan die Regter President gerig waarin met Å aantal hersieningsake waarin navrae aan die betrokke landdros gerig was, gehandel word. Uit die skrywe blyk dit dat al die sake, insluitended die huidige een, reeds vir baie lank uitstaande is sonder dat met die navrae gehandel en die sake afgehandel is. Dit blyk dat die situasie meegebring was deur die landdros se gesondheidstoestand, die voorgeskrewe medikasie en lang tye van siekverlof. Dit blyk dat sy steeds nie in staat is om met haar werk voort te gaan nie en dat sy met siekverlof is tot 27 Junie 2008. Dit is ook onbekend hoe lank haar siektetoestand sal voortduur en hieruit moet afgelei word dat sy moontlik selfs nie na 27 Junie in staat sal wees om haar pligte te hervat nie.
Dit is egter in die belang van gesonde regspleging dat die saak nou mee gehandel moet word, noodwendig sonder die landdros se redes. Omdat die saak reeds so lank uitstaande is, het ek in die bevel wat hierna volg, voorsiening gemaak vir die moontlike afhandeling voor Å ander landdros.
Weens die voormelde onreëlmatigheid moet die skuldigbevinding en vonnis ter syde gestel en die saak na die verhoorhof terug verwys word om Špleit van onskuldig in terme van Atikel 113 van die Wet aan te teken en daarna met die verhoor voort te gaan.
Die volgende bevel word gemaak.
Die skuldigbevinding en vonnis word ter syde gestel.
Die saak word na die landdros terug verwys met die opdrag om Å pleit van onskuldig in terme van Artikel 113 van die Wet aan te teken en daarna met die verhoor voort te gaan.
Indien die landdros weens omstandighede wat verband hou met haar siektetoestand nie beskikbaar is op die datum van verhoor om met die verhoor voort te gaan nie, mag die saak voor Å ander lanndros gebring word om ooreenkomstig paragraaf 2 hierbo op te tree.
_______
H.J. LIEBENBERG
REGTER
VAN DIE HOOGGEREGSHOF
VAN DER BYL, WR:
EK STEM SAAM.
_________
P. VAN DER BYL
WAARNEEMENDE
REGTER VAN DIE HOOGGEREGSHOF
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