S v Moejane (1269/2005) [2005] ZAFSHC 144 (10 November 2005)
- Citation
- [2005] ZAFSHC 144
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- South Africa
- Court
- Free State High Court, Bloemfontein
- Panel
- G.F. Wright, S.P.B. Hancke
- Case number
- 1269/2005
More details
- Court
- Free State High Court, Bloemfontein
- Panel
- G.F. Wright, S.P.B. Hancke
- Case number
- 1269/2005
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The court found that while the offence was serious, the accused's youth and status as a first offender required a more lenient approach. The alternative imprisonment of 300 days attached to the R3,000 fine was disproportionate and would result in a much harsher punishment than the fine itself, especially for a young offender unable to pay. The court held that six months' imprisonment as an alternative to the fine was sufficient and better aligned with principles of proportionality and rehabilitation. The conviction and suspended sentence were confirmed, but the alternative imprisonment was reduced.
Court disposition
Conviction and suspended sentence confirmed; alternative imprisonment reduced.
Orders
- The conviction is confirmed.
- The sentence of 18 months' imprisonment, suspended on appropriate conditions, is confirmed.
- The portion of the sentence imposing a fine of R3,000 or 300 days' imprisonment is set aside and replaced with a fine of R3,000 or 6 months' imprisonment.
- The amended sentence is deemed to have been imposed on 13 September 2005.
02
Material facts
Parties
The State
ApplicantRelebohile Moejane
RespondentAmounts and remedies
- Fine Imposed: ZAR 3,000
- Alternative Imprisonment (original): 300
- Alternative Imprisonment (amended): 6
- Suspended Imprisonment: 18
03
Procedural history
Posture
Criminal Law / Appeal Review
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether the sentence imposed on a seventeen-year-old first offender for dealing in 7kg of cannabis was appropriate and proportionate.
- 02
Whether the alternative imprisonment period attached to the fine was excessive in relation to the amount of the fine.
- 03
Whether the sentencing court properly considered the youth and mitigating circumstances of the accused.
Party arguments
- Applicant
- The State argued that the offence was serious and warranted a substantial sentence, but acknowledged the accused's youth and status as a first offender. The State did not oppose the imposition of a suspended sentence and a fine, provided the punishment reflected the gravity of the offence.
- Respondent
- The accused, a seventeen-year-old first offender, admitted guilt and explained that he committed the offence to buy clothes. He was still attending school and unable to pay the fine from his own income. The defence argued that the alternative imprisonment period was disproportionate to the fine and unduly harsh given the accused's circumstances.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
S v Kapeng 1992 (1) SASV 596 (O)
A court should be more lenient in sentencing a seventeen-year-old first offender than an adult, seeking alternatives to imprisonment where possible.
- 02
S v Makoae 1997 (2) SASV 705 (O)
The relationship between the fine and alternative imprisonment must be reconsidered regularly due to the depreciation of money.
- 03
S v Nxumalo 1992 (2) SASV 268 (O); S v Monisa 1992 (2) SASV 671 (O)
First offenders in drug-related crimes should be given the option of a fine, but the alternative imprisonment must not be disproportionate.
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The court found that while the offence was serious, the accused's youth and status as a first offender required a more lenient approach. The alternative imprisonment of 300 days attached to the R3,000 fine was disproportionate and would result in a much harsher punishment than the fine itself, especially for a young offender unable to pay. The court held that six months' imprisonment as an alternative to the fine was sufficient and better aligned with principles of proportionality and rehabilitation. The conviction and suspended sentence were confirmed, but the alternative imprisonment was reduced.
Obiter and limits
- The importance of regularly reviewing the relationship between fines and alternative imprisonment is underscored by the ongoing depreciation of money.
- Sentencing courts must pay careful attention to the completion of official forms to ensure clarity regarding payment of fines and execution of sentences.
- Youthful first offenders should be given every reasonable opportunity to avoid incarceration, provided the seriousness of the offence is not undermined.
Court disposition
Conviction and suspended sentence confirmed; alternative imprisonment reduced.
- The conviction is confirmed.
- The sentence of 18 months' imprisonment, suspended on appropriate conditions, is confirmed.
- The portion of the sentence imposing a fine of R3,000 or 300 days' imprisonment is set aside and replaced with a fine of R3,000 or 6 months' imprisonment.
- The amended sentence is deemed to have been imposed on 13 September 2005.
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)
Saak nr: 1269/2005
In die saak tussen:
DIE
STAAT
en
RELEBOHILE
MOEJANE
_____________
CORAM: HANCKE, J et WRIGHT, J
UITSPRAAK: WRIGHT, J
GELEWER OP: 10 NOVEMBER 2005
[1] Die beskuldigde, ân agtienjarige eerste oortreder, is skuldig bevind aan die oortreding van Artikel 5(b) van Wet 140 van 1992, te wete handel dryf in 7kg dagga. Hy is gevonnis tot 18 (agtien) maande gevangenisstraf wat op gepasde voorwaardes opgeskort is asook tot ân boete van R3 000,00 (drieduisend rand) of 300 (driehonderd) dae gevangenisstraf.
[2] Nadat navraag gerig, is blyk dit dat die beskuldigde oop kaarte met die hof gespeel het en meegedeel het dat hy die misdaad gepleeg het om klere te koop. Die beskuldigde het verder in die hof meegedeel dat hy nog skoolgaan en dat hy eers 18 jaar oud word in Oktober 2005. (Die misdaad is derhalwe gepleeg toe hy nog 17 jaar oud was.)
[3] Dit is erkende reg dat ân hof ân sewentienjarige eerste oortreder meer tegemoedkomend sal straf as in die geval van ân volwasse persoon. Daar sal veral gepoog word om te kyk of die persoon nie uit die gevangenis gehou kan word nie. Omdat ons hier met ân baie ernstige misdaad te doen het is dit myns insiens in orde dat ân langerige termyn van gevangenisstraf wat opgeskort word, opgelê word en het ek geen probleem met die 18 maande gevangenisstraf wat op gepasde voorwaardes opgeskort is en wat as ân swaard oor die beskuldigde se kop sal hang sodat hy nie weer hierdie misdaad pleeg nie.
[4] Wat die boete met alternatiewe gevangenisstraf betref, word besef dat ân mens nie vir ân misdaad van hierdie aard ân mindere boete as die opgelegde boete kan oplê nie maar meen ek dat die 300 dae gevangenisstraf buite verhouding tot die boete is. In die verband word gewys na S v KAPENG 1992 (1) SASV 596 (O) en ook die latere beslissing van S v MAKOAE 1997 (2) SASV 705 (O) waarop gewys word dat die verhouding tussen die boete en die alternatiewe gevangenisstraf gedurig in heroorweging geneem moet word as gevolg van die waardevermindering van geld. In laasgenoemde beslissing word die volgende gesê op bladsy 709 C-F:
âHierdie is duidelik ân geval waar die beskuldigde nie in staat sal wees om uit sy eie inkomste ân boete wat gepas sal wees in die lig van die erns van die misdryf te betaal nie. Nogtans word daar saamgestem met die beginsel, dat in misdade van hierdie aard, die keuse van ân boete aan ân eerste oortreder verskaf moet word. (Cf bv S v Nxumalo 1992 (2) SASV 268 (O) en S v Monisa 1992 (2) SASV 671 (O) op 672i.)
Wat meer kommentaar vereis is die verhouding tussen die boete en die alternatiewe gevangenisstraf. Dit het in elk geval geblyk dat die beskuldigde nie eers in staat was om die boete van R3 000 te betaal nie. Selfs al sou die boete dubbel die bedrag wees wat inderdaad opgelê is, sou dit nog ân relatiewe ligte straf wees in verhouding tot 30 maande gevangenisstraf. Selfs ân persoon met ân relatiewe geringe inkomste van ongeveer R6 000 per jaar, sou eerder ten alle koste wou poog om die boete te betaal eerder as om vir twee en ân half jaar tronk toe te gaan. Die verhouding van boetes wat op gelê word teenoor die alternatiewe gevangenisstraf het nie tred gehou met die waardevermindering van geld nie. (Sien S v Kapeng 1992 (1) SASV 596 (O) en die sake daar aangehaal, asook die hersieningsuitspraak in S v Andries Motsamai (hersieningsno 132/97).) Dit geld des te meer in ân geval soos hierdie waar dit vir die landdros duidelik moes gewees het dat die beskuldigde nie in staat sal wees om die boete te betaal tensy hy finansiële hulp van ân vriend of familielid ontvang nie of oor ander onverklaarde bates beskik wat hy te gelde kom maak.â
[5] In hierdie geval sal die 300 dae gevangenisstraf beteken dat die beskuldigde in alle waarskynlikheid vir bykans ân jaar in die tronk deurbring wat ongetwyfeld ân baie swaarder straf is as ân boete van R3 000,00. Hierdie aspek moet in samehang gesien word met die feit dat ons hier met ân jeugdige eerste oortreder te doen het en die ander versagtende faktore waarna hierbo verwys is.
[6] In die lig van al die omstandighede meen ek dat alternatiewe gevangenisstraf van 6 (ses) maande voldoende behoort te wees. (Dit blyk nie eers uit die J4 vorm of die boete inderdaad betaal is alhoewel die belangrikheid van die voltooiing van die betrokke gedeelte van die vorm al by herhaling beklemtoon is).
[7] Bygevolg word die skuldigbevinding bekragtig sowel as die vonnis behalwe dat die gedeelte van die vonnis dat die beskuldigde beboet word met R3 000,00 of 300 (driehonderd) dae gevangenisstraf ter syde gestel word en vervang word met die volgende:
ân Boete van R3 000,00 (drieduisend rand) of 6 (ses) maande gevangenisstraf.
Die gewysigde vonnis moet geag word opgelê te gewees het op 13 September 2005.
______
G.F. WRIGHT, R
Ek stem saam.
____
S.P.B. HANCKE, R
/em
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