S v Kubheka (45/93) [1994] ZASCA 25 (24 March 1994)
- Citation
- [1994] ZASCA 25
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- South Africa
- Court
- Supreme Court of Appeal
- Panel
- Nestadt, Van den Heever, Mahomed
- Case number
- 45/93
More details
- Court
- Supreme Court of Appeal
- Panel
- Nestadt, Van den Heever, Mahomed
- Case number
- 45/93
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The court held that, although the offence was serious and normally warranted a substantial sentence, the appellant's youth and status as a first offender made direct imprisonment inappropriate. The magistrate erred by imposing a custodial sentence without a pre-sentence report and failing to consider alternative sentencing options. The appellate court found that a wholly suspended sentence was suitable, as it would allow for immediate finalization of the matter without further delay and avoid exposing the appellant to the negative effects of imprisonment. The suspended sentence also provided an opportunity for rehabilitation, given the appellant's background and support from his mother.
Court disposition
Appeal upheld; sentence of direct imprisonment set aside and replaced with a wholly suspended sentence.
Orders
- The appellant's sentence is set aside and replaced with: 'Eighteen months' imprisonment suspended for three years on condition that the appellant is not convicted of housebreaking with intent to steal and theft committed during the period of suspension.'
02
Material facts
Parties
Patrick Kubheka
AppellantThe State
RespondentAmounts and remedies
- Value of Stolen Goods: ZAR 10,000
- Suspended Imprisonment Period (months): 18
03
Procedural history
Posture
Criminal Appeal / Appeal Against Sentence
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether direct imprisonment was appropriate for a first-time youthful offender convicted of housebreaking and theft.
- 02
Whether the magistrate properly exercised discretion in sentencing without a pre-sentence report.
- 03
What alternative sentencing options were available and suitable under the circumstances.
Party arguments
- Applicant
- The appellant argued that, as a first-time offender and a youth aged sixteen years and five months at the time of the offence, direct imprisonment was inappropriate. He contended that the magistrate failed to properly exercise discretion by imposing a custodial sentence without considering alternatives or obtaining a pre-sentence report.
- Respondent
- The respondent maintained that the offence was serious, involving premeditated housebreaking and theft of goods valued between R9,000 and R10,000. The respondent argued that the interests of the community required a firm sentence, even for first offenders, and supported the imposition of imprisonment.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
S v Theron 1986(1) SA 884(A) at 897G
It is undesirable to expose children to the disadvantages of imprisonment, and courts should consider alternatives where possible.
- 02
Hiemstra Suid-Afrikaanse Strafproses, 5th edition, p. 713
Judicial discretion in sentencing must be properly exercised, especially in cases involving youth offenders.
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The court held that, although the offence was serious and normally warranted a substantial sentence, the appellant's youth and status as a first offender made direct imprisonment inappropriate. The magistrate erred by imposing a custodial sentence without a pre-sentence report and failing to consider alternative sentencing options. The appellate court found that a wholly suspended sentence was suitable, as it would allow for immediate finalization of the matter without further delay and avoid exposing the appellant to the negative effects of imprisonment. The suspended sentence also provided an opportunity for rehabilitation, given the appellant's background and support from his mother.
Obiter and limits
- The court noted that the case had been delayed for a considerable time and that immediate finalization was in the interests of justice.
- The appellant's obedience and support from his mother were considered positive factors in favor of a suspended sentence.
Court disposition
Appeal upheld; sentence of direct imprisonment set aside and replaced with a wholly suspended sentence.
- The appellant's sentence is set aside and replaced with: 'Eighteen months' imprisonment suspended for three years on condition that the appellant is not convicted of housebreaking with intent to steal and theft committed during the period of suspension.'
Source and reliance status
Supreme Court of Appeal
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.
Supreme Court of Appeal
Judgment
/CCC SAAK NO: 45/93
IN DIE HOOGGEREGSHOF VAN SUID-AFRIKA (APPèLAFDELING)
In die saak tussen:
PATRICK KUBHEKA APPELLANT
en
DIE STAAT RESPONDENT
CORAM: NESTADT, VAN DEN HEEVER ARR et MAHOMED Wnde AR
VERHOORDATUM: 22 MAART 1994
LEWERINGSDATUM: 24 MAART 1994
UITSPRAAK NESTADT, AR:
Die appellant is in die Streekhof in Germiston aan huisbraak met die opset om te steel en diefstal
2
skuldig bevind. 'n Vonnis van ses jaar gevangenisstrafwaarvan twee jaar voorwaardelik opgeskort is, is aan homopgelê. Op appèl na die Witwatersrandse PlaaslikeAfdeling is die vonnis verminder na vier jaar
gevangenisstraf waarvan die helfte opgeskort is.
Hierdie verdere appèl teen vonnis dien voor ons met
verlof van hierdie Hof.
Die feite van die misdaad kan kortliks saamgevat word. Die appellant en twee ander het op 17 Mei 1991 by die huis van die klaagster ingebreek en items ter waarde van tussen R9 000 en R10 000 gesteel. Toegang is tot die huis verkry deur 'n ruit van 'n kamer in die huis te breek.
Die Verhoorhof het tereg daarop gewys dat die misdaad 'n ernstige een was. Dit is klaarblyklik vooraf beplan. Die huis is in wanorde gelaat. Die betrokke misdryf kom dikwels voor. Soos alreeds
3
aangedui, is 'n groot hoeveelheid goedere gesteel.Normaalweg verg die belange van die gemeenskap dat 'n stewige vonnis vir hierdie tipe misdaad opgelê word, selfs waar dit deur 'n eerste oortreder gepleeg is. Die huidige geval is egter 'n uitsondering. Die appellant is nie net 'n eerste oortreder nie, hy is ook 'n jeugdige. Hy was slegs sestien jaar en vyf maande oud toe hy die misdaad gepleeg het. Hy was nog maar 'n skoolkind (in standard agt) wat op die betrokke dag stokkies gedraai het. In hierdie omstandighede was 'n vonnis van gevangenisstraf onvanpas en deur dit te vel (boonop sonder enige voorvonnisverslag) het die landdros nie sy diskresie behoorlik uitgeoefen nie. In beginsel is dit onwenslik om kinders bloot te stel aan die nadele van gevangenisstraf (kyk S v Theron 1986(1) SA 884(A) te 897 G; Hiemstra Suid-Afrikaanse Strafproses, 5e uitgawe 713). Die hof a quo (wat besef
4
het dat die appellant waarskynlik beïnvloed is of 'n mindere deelnemer was) het ook na my mening gefouteer deur hierdie strafvorm in stand te hou.
Bygevolg is ons geregtig om die vonnis tersyde te stel en dit te vervang met een wat direkte gevangenisstraf vermy. Daar is verskillende opsies. Die vernaamste is (i) lyfstraf; (ii) uitstel van vonnis (kragtens art 297 van Wet 51 van 1977); (iii) die verskillende keuses wat art 290 bied; (iv) korrektiewe toesig kragtens art 276(1)(h); of (v) gevangenisstraf wat opgeskort word. Ons het al hierdie moontlikhede oorweeg en tot die slotsom geraak dat laasgenoemde in die omstandighede van die onderhawige geval gepas is. So 'n vonnis hou die voordeel in dat die saak wat lank sloer onmiddellik afgehandel kan word sonder terugverwysing vir die verkryging van 'n proef-of korrektiewe beampte se verslag. Appellant se moeder.
5
wat hom by die verhoor bygestaan het, het getuig dat hy 'n gehoorsame kind is. Daar is dus rede om te glo dat hy die geleentheid hom daardeur gegee, sal benut.
Die appêl slaag. Die appellant se vonnis word tersyde gestel en met die volgende vervang: "Agtien maande gevangenisstraf wat vir drie jaar opgeskort word op voorwaarde dat die appellant nie skuldig bevind word nie aan huisbraak met die opset om te steel en diefstal, gepleeg gedurende die tydperk van opskorting."
H H NESTADT, AR
VAN DEN HEEVER AR )
) STEM SAAM MAHOMED Wnde AR )
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