S v Louw, S v Lubbe (588/04,589/04) [2004] ZANCHC 95 (17 December 2004)
- Citation
- [2004] ZANCHC 95
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- South Africa
- Court
- Northern Cape High Court, Kimberley
- Panel
- Olivier R
- Case number
- 588/04,589/04
More details
- Court
- Northern Cape High Court, Kimberley
- Panel
- Olivier R
- Case number
- 588/04,589/04
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The court held that the magistrate was not entitled to use section 112(1)(a) of the Criminal Procedure Act to convict and sentence the accused to suspended imprisonment without the option of a fine. The imposition of such sentences indicates that the magistrate considered the offences serious enough to warrant imprisonment without a fine, which falls outside the scope of section 112(1)(a). Therefore, both the convictions and sentences must be set aside. Additionally, in the case of Louw, the prosecutor purported to withdraw the main charge after a plea of not guilty, which is procedurally incorrect, as a charge cannot be withdrawn after a plea has been entered.
Court disposition
Convictions and sentences in both cases are set aside.
Orders
- In both cases, the convictions and sentences are set aside.
02
Material facts
Parties
The State
ApplicantFrans Hendry Louw
RespondentNeville Lubbe
Respondent03
Procedural history
Posture
Review Application / Special Review After Conviction and Sentence
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether the magistrate was entitled to use section 112(1)(a) of the Criminal Procedure Act when imposing suspended imprisonment without the option of a fine.
- 02
Whether convictions and sentences imposed under these circumstances are valid.
Party arguments
- Applicant
- The State did not present substantive argument, as the matter was referred for special review following the convictions and sentences imposed by the magistrate under section 112(1)(a) of the Criminal Procedure Act.
- Respondent
- The accused pleaded guilty and were convicted without questioning under section 112(1)(a), and sentenced to wholly suspended imprisonment for three years, without being given the option of a fine.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
S v Mangwegape en Andere 1979(3) SA 1210 (O)
A magistrate may not use section 112(1)(a) of the Criminal Procedure Act to convict and sentence an accused to imprisonment, even if suspended, without the option of a fine.
- 02
S v Daniels 1991(2) SASV 449 (K)
Where the nature of the offence justifies imprisonment without the option of a fine, section 112(1)(a) is not applicable.
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The court held that the magistrate was not entitled to use section 112(1)(a) of the Criminal Procedure Act to convict and sentence the accused to suspended imprisonment without the option of a fine. The imposition of such sentences indicates that the magistrate considered the offences serious enough to warrant imprisonment without a fine, which falls outside the scope of section 112(1)(a). Therefore, both the convictions and sentences must be set aside. Additionally, in the case of Louw, the prosecutor purported to withdraw the main charge after a plea of not guilty, which is procedurally incorrect, as a charge cannot be withdrawn after a plea has been entered.
Obiter and limits
- In the case of Louw, the prosecutor withdrew the main charge after a plea of not guilty, which is not permissible once a plea has been entered.
- Magistrates must exercise caution when applying section 112(1)(a) and ensure that its use is limited to minor offences where imprisonment without the option of a fine is not contemplated.
Court disposition
Convictions and sentences in both cases are set aside.
- In both cases, the convictions and sentences are set aside.
Source and reliance status
Northern Cape High Court, Kimberley
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Judgment reading view
Judgment text
The complete available source text.
Northern Cape High Court, Kimberley
Judgment
Verslagwaardig: Ja / Nee
Sirkuleer aan Regters: Ja / Nee
Sirkuleer aan Landdroste: Ja / Nee
IN DIE HOOGGEREGSHOF VAN SUID-AFRIKA
(Noord-Kaapse Afdeling)
Datum gelewer: 2004-12-17
In die hersieningsaak van:
DIE
STAAT
versus
FRANS
HENDRY LOUW
Hooggeregshof verw nr. 589/04
Landdros saaknr. : C1721/04
NEVILLE
LUBBE
Hooggeregshof verw nr. 588/04
Landdros saaknr. : C1606/04
Coram:
OLIVIER R
UITSPRAAK
OP HERSIENING
OLIVIER R.
Beide die bogemelde sake is voorgelê vir die doeleindes van spesiale hersiening nadat die betrokke beskuldigdes in elk van die gevalle gevonnis is tot 3 maande gevangenisstraf wat in die geheel voorwaardelik opgeskort is vir ân periode van 3 jaar.
In elk van die twee gevalle het die landdros, nadat die beskuldigde skuldig gepleit het op die betrokke aanklag, gebruik gemaak van die bepalings van artikel 112(1)(a) van die Strafproseswet, nr. 51 van 1977 (âdie Wetâ), en gevolglik die betrokke beskuldigdes telkens skuldig bevind sonder ondervraging en toe gevonnis.
In die lig daarvan dat beide die vonnisse van opgeskorte gevangenisstraf opgelê is sonder om aan die betrokke beskuldigde ân keuse van ân boete te gee, kan geen ander afleiding gemaak word nie as dat die landdros van oordeel moes gewees het dat, indien die opskortingsvoorwaardes verbreek sou word, die ten laste gelegde misdrywe âgevangenisstraf ... sonder die keuse van ân boeteâ geregverdig het. Die landdros was nie onder sodanige omstandighede geregtig om die bepalings van artikel 112(1)(a) van die Wet te gebruik nie [sien S v Mangwegape en Andere 1979(3) SA 1210 (O) en S v Daniels 1991(2) SASV 449 (K)].
In die lig hiervan sal die skuldigbevindings en vonnisse in beide die gevalle ongelukkig tersyde gestel moet word. Terloops kan daarop gewys word dat, in die geval van Louw, dit ook geblyk het dat die aanklaer, nadat die beskuldigde op die hoofaanklag onskuldig gepleit het, te kenne gegee het dat die hoofaanklag teruggetrek word; dit nogal op die uitnodiging van die landdros. Dit sou natuurlik nie vir die aanklaer moontlik gewees het om ân aanklag terug te trek nadat die beskuldigde daarop gepleit het nie.
Hoe dit ookal sy, die volgende bevel word dan ten aansien van die bogemelde sake gemaak:
In beide die bogemelde sake word die skuldigbevindings en vonnisse tersyde gestel.
___
CJ
OLIVIER
REGTER
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