S v Matsheka (368/2007) [2007] ZAFSHC 94 (6 September 2007)
- Citation
- [2007] ZAFSHC 94
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- South Africa
- Court
- Free State High Court, Bloemfontein
- Panel
- G H Bloem, Kruger
- Case number
- 368/2007
More details
- Court
- Free State High Court, Bloemfontein
- Panel
- G H Bloem, Kruger
- Case number
- 368/2007
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The High Court found that the conviction was in accordance with the law and confirmed it. However, the sentence imposed by the magistrate—30 months' imprisonment and suspension of the driver's licence—was disproportionate to sentences typically imposed for similar offences. The accused's personal circumstances, including his financial responsibilities and reliance on his driver's licence for income, were not adequately considered. The interests of the community and the seriousness of the offence were weighed against these factors. The Court held that a substantial fine or a suspended sentence would be more appropriate and that the suspension of the driver's licence was unnecessary. Accordingly, the sentence was set aside and replaced with a fine of R6,000 or six months' imprisonment, half of which was suspended for three years on condition that the accused does not commit a similar offence during the period of suspension. The suspension of the driver's licence was revoked.
Court disposition
Conviction confirmed; sentence set aside and replaced with a fine or suspended imprisonment; suspension of driver's licence revoked.
Orders
- The conviction is confirmed.
- The sentence imposed by the magistrate is set aside and replaced with: 'The accused is sentenced to a fine of R6,000 or six months' imprisonment, half of which is suspended for three years on condition that the accused is not convicted of an offence under section 65(1) of the National Road Traffic Act, 1996, committed during the period of suspension.'
- The suspension of the accused's driver's licence is revoked.
- The sentence is deemed to have been imposed on 11 April 2007 in terms of section 280 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977.
02
Material facts
Parties
The State
ApplicantOlehile Herculues Matsheka
RespondentAmounts and remedies
- Fine Imposed: ZAR 6,000
- Monthly Pension Income: ZAR 1,200
- Monthly Child Maintenance: ZAR 2,000
03
Procedural history
Posture
Review Application / High Court Review of Magistrate's Conviction and Sentence
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether the conviction for driving under the influence was in accordance with the law.
- 02
Whether the sentence imposed by the magistrate was appropriate under the circumstances.
- 03
Whether the suspension of the accused's driver's licence was justified.
Party arguments
- Applicant
- The prosecution maintained that the accused contravened section 65(1)(a) read with section 89 of the National Road Traffic Act, 1996, by unlawfully driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or a narcotic drug. The accused pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 months' imprisonment, declared unfit to possess a firearm under section 103(1) of the Firearms Control Act, 2000, and had his driver's licence suspended for two years under section 35(1)(c) of the National Road Traffic Act.
- Respondent
- The accused's personal circumstances were highlighted: he is 42 years old, divorced, supports his wife and four children, receives a pension of R1,200 per month, and supplements his income by transporting goods or people. He pleaded guilty and is a first offender. The defence argued that the sentence was disproportionate to sentences typically imposed for similar offences and that the suspension of his driver's licence was unnecessary given his reliance on it for income.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
S v Zinn 1969 (2) SA 537 (A)
Sentences must be proportionate to the seriousness of the offence, the circumstances under which it was committed, the personal circumstances of the accused, and the interests of the community.
- 02
Section 297 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 (No. 51 of 1977)
A court may suspend a sentence on condition that the accused does not commit a similar offence during the period of suspension.
- 03
Section 35(1)(c) of the National Road Traffic Act, 1996 (No. 93 of 1996)
The suspension of a driver's licence should be considered in light of the accused's need for the licence and the purpose for which it is used.
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The High Court found that the conviction was in accordance with the law and confirmed it. However, the sentence imposed by the magistrate—30 months' imprisonment and suspension of the driver's licence—was disproportionate to sentences typically imposed for similar offences. The accused's personal circumstances, including his financial responsibilities and reliance on his driver's licence for income, were not adequately considered. The interests of the community and the seriousness of the offence were weighed against these factors. The Court held that a substantial fine or a suspended sentence would be more appropriate and that the suspension of the driver's licence was unnecessary. Accordingly, the sentence was set aside and replaced with a fine of R6,000 or six months' imprisonment, half of which was suspended for three years on condition that the accused does not commit a similar offence during the period of suspension. The suspension of the driver's licence was revoked.
Obiter and limits
- The Court expressed concern that the Legal Aid Board did not provide feedback despite requests, highlighting a need for improved responsiveness from legal aid institutions.
- The Court noted that the road where the offence occurred is notoriously busy and dangerous, which aggravates the seriousness of the offence, but this does not justify an unduly harsh sentence.
Court disposition
Conviction confirmed; sentence set aside and replaced with a fine or suspended imprisonment; suspension of driver's licence revoked.
- The conviction is confirmed.
- The sentence imposed by the magistrate is set aside and replaced with: 'The accused is sentenced to a fine of R6,000 or six months' imprisonment, half of which is suspended for three years on condition that the accused is not convicted of an offence under section 65(1) of the National Road Traffic Act, 1996, committed during the period of suspension.'
- The suspension of the accused's driver's licence is revoked.
- The sentence is deemed to have been imposed on 11 April 2007 in terms of section 280 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977.
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. : 368/2007
In die saak tussen:
DIE
STAAT
en
OLEHILE
HERCULUS MATSHEKA
_____________
CORAM: KRUGER R, et
BLOEM
WND R
UITSPRAAK: BLOEM,
WND R
GELEWER OP: 6 SEPTEMBER 2007
[1] Hierdie is ân hersiening. Volgens die oorkonde was die beskuldigde aangekla daarvan dat hy die bepalings van artikel 65(1)(a) gelees met artikel 89 van die Nasionale Padverkeerswet, 1996 (No. 93 van 1996) oortree het deurdat hy op 9 Maart 2007 en op die N8 hoofpad in die distrik van Botshabello wederregtelik en onwettig ân voertuig bestuur het terwyl hy onder die invloed van sterk drank of ân verdowingsmiddel wat ân narkotiese uitwerking het was. Hy het skuldig gepleit en was gevonnis tot 30 maande gevangenisstraf. Hy was ook onbevoeg verklaar om ân vuurwapen te besit ingevolge die bepalings van artikel 103(1) van die Wet op Beheer van Vuurwapens, 2000 (No. 60 van 2000). Verder was sy bestuurderslisensie opgeskort vir twee jaar ingevolge die bepalings van artikel 35(1)(c) van die Nasionale Padverkeerswet.
[2] Ek het bedenkinge gehad of die skuldigbevinding ooreenkomstig die reg geskied het. Die landdros se redes vir die skuldigbevinding en vonnis was daarom na die Direkteur van Openbare Vervolgings en die Regshulpraad gestuur vir hul opinie en moontlike beredenering in die hof. Ek is dank verskuldig aan Mnr. Chalale van die Bloemfonteinse kantoor van die Direkteur van Openbare Vervolgings vir sy opinie oor die skuldigbevinding en vonnis. Dieselfde kan egter nie van die Regshulpraad gesê word nie omdat ek nie enige terugvoering van daardie kantoor ontvang het nie. Telefoniese navrae het nie gehelp nie.
[3] Na verdere oorweging van die verrigtinge in die landdroshof, die landdros se vermelde redes en Mnr. Chalale se insette blyk dit dat die skuldigbevinding ooreenkomstig die reg geskied het. Die beskuldigde se skuldigbevinding moet derhalwe bekragtig word. Ek handel vervolgens met die vonnis.
[4] Die beskuldigde is 42 jaar oud. Hy is geskei en onderhou sy vrou, 3 minderjarige kinders en ân ander kind wat op Technikon is. Hy was vir 10 jaar ân staatsamptenaar maar sy dienste was om mediese redes beëindig. Hy verdien tans ân pensioen van R1 200,00 per maand. Hy het verder genoem dat hy òf goedere òf mense vervoer om sy inkomste aan te vul. Ongelukkig was hy nie gevra hoeveel geld hy deur sodanige besigheid verdien nie. Dit moet genoeg wees om hom in staat te stel om onderhoud van R2 000,00 per maand aan sy kinders te betaal. Die beskuldigde is ân eerste oortreder wat skuldig gepleit het.
[5] Die beskuldigde het hom skuldig gemaak aan ân ernstige misdryf. Hy het op ân dubbele sperstreep ân bus verby gesteek. Dit is alom bekend dat die pad waar die misdryf gepleeg was ân verskriklike besige pad is wat bekend is vir padongelukke. Die beskuldigde was aangekeer omdat ân verkeersinspekteur vanaf die teenoorgestelde rigting gery het. Hy en twee bestuurders voor hom moes hul voertuie na links swaai om die beskuldigde toe te laat om die bus verby te steek om ân ongeluk te vermy. Die verkeersinspekteur het omgedraai, die beskuldigde gevolg en hom gearresteer.
[6] Die landdros beklemtoon dat die beskuldigde sterk onder die invloed van drank was toe die misdryf plaasgevind het. Hy sê dat die beskuldigde op die betrokke dag soos ân potensiële moordenaar opgetree het. Dat die beskuldigde aan ân ernstige misdryf skuldig is is gewis. Hoewel die beskuldigde ân ernstige misdryf gepleeg het is ek van mening dat die opgelegde vonnis in hierdie saak buite verhouding is met die gangbare vonnisse wat opgelê word op soortgelyke misdrywe.
[7] In aggenome die erns en die omstandighede waaronder die misdryf gepleeg was, die persoonlike omstandighede van die beskuldigde en die belange van die gemeenskap is ek van mening dat ân stywe boete gepas is. Ek stem nie saam dat 30 maande gevangenisstraf gepas is nie. Dit was ook nie nodig om die beskuldigde se bestuurslisensie op te skort nie as ân mens sou kyk na die rede waarvoor hy sy bestuurslisensie gebruik. Die opgelegde vonnis is buitengewoon swaar en verg ingryping deur hierdie hof.
[8] Na my mening is ân gepaste vonnis ân boete van R6 000,00 of ses maande gevangenisstraf waarvan die helfte opgeskort word vir drie jaar. Dit was nie nodig om die beskuldigde se bestuurslisensie op te skort nie.
[9] Vir bogenoemde redes:
word die skuldigbevinding bekragtig; en
word die vonnis tersyde gestel en vervang met die volgende:
âDie beskuldigde word gevonnis tot ân boete van R6 000,00 of ses maande gevangenisstraf waarvan die helfte vir drie jaar opgeskort word op voorwaarde dat die beskuldigde nie skuldig bevind word aan ân oortreding van artikel 65(1) van die Nasionale Padverkeerswet, 1996, gepleeg gedurende die tydperk van opskorting nie.â
9.3 Die vonnis word ingevolge artikel 280 van die Strafproseswet, 1977 (No. 51 van 1977) geag opgelê te gewees het op 11 April 2007.
_______
G. H. BLOEM, WND R
Ek stem saam.
___
KRUGER, R
/em
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