S v Mashiyana (218/2006) [2006] ZAFSHC 112 (9 March 2006)
- Citation
- [2006] ZAFSHC 112
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- South Africa
- Court
- Free State High Court, Bloemfontein
- Panel
- Kruger, R, C.J. Musi, R
- Case number
- 218/2006
More details
- Court
- Free State High Court, Bloemfontein
- Panel
- Kruger, R, C.J. Musi, R
- Case number
- 218/2006
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The court found that the sentence imposed by the magistrate did not accurately reflect the intention of the parties as set out in the plea and sentence agreement. The error was bona fide and did not accord with the requirements of justice. The court exercised its powers under section 304(4) of the Criminal Procedure Act to correct the sentence so that the suspended portion was conditional upon the accused not being convicted of theft, fraud, or any offence involving dishonesty committed during the period of suspension. The correction was necessary to ensure that the sentence was legally sound and reflected the agreement between the parties.
Court disposition
The sentence imposed by the magistrate is corrected to reflect the proper conditions of suspension as intended by the parties.
Orders
- The sentence imposed by the magistrate in terms of the plea agreement is amended to read: Three (3) years' imprisonment in terms of section 276(1)(b) of the Criminal Procedure Act, Act 51 of 1977 (as amended), and a further four (4) years' imprisonment suspended for five (5) years on condition that the accused is not convicted of theft, fraud, or any offence involving dishonesty committed during the period of suspension.
02
Material facts
Parties
The State
ApplicantP. Mashiyana
RespondentAmounts and remedies
- Direct Imprisonment Term: ZAR 3
- Suspended Imprisonment Term: ZAR 4
- Suspension Period (years): ZAR 5
03
Procedural history
Posture
Review Application / Special Review Under Section 304(4) of the Criminal Procedure Act
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether the sentence imposed by the magistrate in terms of the plea and sentence agreement was correct in law.
- 02
Whether the suspended sentence was properly formulated to reflect the parties' intention and the requirements of the law.
- 03
Whether the court should exercise its powers under section 304(4) of the Criminal Procedure Act to correct the sentence.
Party arguments
- Applicant
- The State, through the prosecutor, indicated that the intention of the parties in the plea agreement was that the suspended sentence should be imposed on the usual condition that the accused is not convicted of relevant offences committed during the period of suspension. The prosecutor requested the correction of a bona fide error in the wording of the sentence.
- Respondent
- The accused did not oppose the correction and was a party to the plea and sentence agreement. There was no indication of prejudice to the accused, and the correction would reflect the true intention of the agreement.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, section 304(4)
A court may correct a sentence imposed in error if the proceedings are not in accordance with justice, using its wide powers under section 304(4) of the Criminal Procedure Act.
- 02
Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, section 105A(8)
Although a plea and sentence agreement is entered into between the State and the accused, it is the court that imposes sentence in accordance with the agreement.
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The court found that the sentence imposed by the magistrate did not accurately reflect the intention of the parties as set out in the plea and sentence agreement. The error was bona fide and did not accord with the requirements of justice. The court exercised its powers under section 304(4) of the Criminal Procedure Act to correct the sentence so that the suspended portion was conditional upon the accused not being convicted of theft, fraud, or any offence involving dishonesty committed during the period of suspension. The correction was necessary to ensure that the sentence was legally sound and reflected the agreement between the parties.
Obiter and limits
- The court noted that errors in the formulation of sentences arising from plea agreements should be corrected promptly to avoid injustice.
- The involvement of both parties in requesting the correction indicated that there was no prejudice to the accused.
Court disposition
The sentence imposed by the magistrate is corrected to reflect the proper conditions of suspension as intended by the parties.
- The sentence imposed by the magistrate in terms of the plea agreement is amended to read: Three (3) years' imprisonment in terms of section 276(1)(b) of the Criminal Procedure Act, Act 51 of 1977 (as amended), and a further four (4) years' imprisonment suspended for five (5) years on condition that the accused is not convicted of theft, fraud, or any offence involving dishonesty committed during the period of suspension.
Source and reliance status
Free State High Court, Bloemfontein
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.
Free State High Court, Bloemfontein
Judgment
IN DIE HOOGGEREGSHOF VAN SUID-AFRIKA
(ORANJE VRYSTAATSE PROVINSIALE AFDELING)
Hersiening Nr. : 218/2006
In die saak tussen:
DIE
STAAT
en
P.
MASHIYANA
______________
CORAM: KRUGER, R et C.J. MUSI, R
UITSPRAAK: KRUGER,
R
GELEWER OP: 9 MAART 2006
[1] Hierdie is ân spesiale hersiening gestuur deur die Streeklanddros, Bloemfontein, onder artikel 304(4) van die Strafproseswet 51 van 1977.
[2] Die beskuldigde is gevonnis ingevolge ân pleit en vonnisooreenkoms ingevolge artikel 105A van Wet 51 van 1977.
[3] Soos die vonnis op die stadium bewoord is mag die beskuldigde nie weer skuldig bevind word gedurende die termyn van opskorting nie instede daarvan dat hy belet word om genoemde misdade te pleeg gedurende die tydperk van opskorting.
[4] Uit ân skrywe van die Staatsaanklaer blyk dat die partye betrokke by die pleit ooreenkoms ten alle tye die bedoeling gehad het dat die gevangenisstraf opgelê vir die beskuldigde, opgeskort moes word op die gewone voorwaarde, naamlik dat hy nie weer skuldig bevind word aan relevante misdade, gepleeg binne die opskortingstydperk nie. Die aanklaer sê dit gaan hier om die regstelling van die bona fide fout.
[5] Hoewel die vonnisooreenkoms tussen die staat en die beskuldigde aangegaan word (artikel 105A(1)(a)), is dit die hof wat vonnis oplê (ooreenkomstig die vonnisooreenkoms) (artikel 105A(8)).
[6] Hierdie is ân geval waar die verrigtinge nie ooreenkomstig die reg is nie omdat ân verkeerde vonnis per abuis opgelê is. Dit is ân gepaste geval vir hierdie hof om sy wye magte onder artikel 304(4) te gebruik.
[7] Gevolglik word die vonnis deur die landdros opgelê ingevolge die pleitooreenkoms gewysig om soos te lees:
ïgDrie (3) jaar gevangenisstraf in terme van artikel 276(1)(b) van die Strafproseswet, Wet 51 van 1977 (soos gewysig) en ân verdere (4) jaar gevangenisstraf opgeskort vir vyf jaar (5) op voorwaarde dat die beskuldigde nie skuldig bevind word aan diefstal of bedrog of enige misdaad waarvan oneerlikheid ân element is nie gepleeg binne die opskortingstydperk nie.â
_____
A. KRUGER, R
Ek stem saam.
___
C.J. MUSI, R
/em
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