S v Mofokeng (993/2005) [2005] ZAFSHC 129 (11 August 2005)
- Citation
- [2005] ZAFSHC 129
- Status
- Order
- Jurisdiction
- South Africa
- Court
- Free State High Court, Bloemfontein
- Panel
- J.Y. Claasen, A. Kruger
- Case number
- 993/2005
More details
- Court
- Free State High Court, Bloemfontein
- Panel
- J.Y. Claasen, A. Kruger
- Case number
- 993/2005
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The court found that the record of the proceedings against accused 1, Elias Tini Mofokeng, had been irretrievably lost and could not be reconstructed despite thorough investigation and attempts by the magistrate, clerk of the court, and other officials. In the absence of a record, it would be unjust to allow the proceedings to stand, as neither the accused nor the State could rely on the details of the prior trial. The separation of trials had previously been ordered, and accused 2 was acquitted. The court determined that the only fair and lawful course was to set aside the proceedings against accused 1 up to the point of separation, thereby enabling the State to institute a new trial de novo.
Court disposition
Proceedings against accused 1 up to the separation of trials are set aside to permit a new trial.
Orders
- The proceedings against accused 1, Elias Tini Mofokeng, in case number B620/00, up to and including the separation of trials in terms of section 159(3) of Act 51 of 1977, are set aside.
02
Material facts
Parties
The State
ApplicantElias Tini Mofokeng
Respondent03
Procedural history
Posture
Review Application / Order on Review Regarding Lost Trial Record and Separation of Trials
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether the proceedings against accused 1 up to the separation of trials should be set aside due to the irretrievable loss of the trial record.
- 02
Whether the State should be permitted to retry accused 1 de novo.
Party arguments
- Applicant
- The State submitted that the trial record and all relevant notes for accused 1's proceedings have been lost or destroyed, making it impossible to reconstruct the record despite diligent efforts by all parties. The State requested that the proceedings up to the separation of trials be set aside to enable a de novo trial.
- Respondent
- Accused 1 was not present to make submissions, as he had absconded during the original proceedings and was only located years later while serving a sentence in another matter. No argument was advanced on his behalf regarding the lost record or the State's request.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
Section 159(3) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977
Where the trial record is irretrievably lost and cannot be reconstructed, the proceedings may be set aside to ensure a fair retrial.
- 02
Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977
A separation of trials may be ordered to allow proceedings against one accused to continue independently of another.
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The court found that the record of the proceedings against accused 1, Elias Tini Mofokeng, had been irretrievably lost and could not be reconstructed despite thorough investigation and attempts by the magistrate, clerk of the court, and other officials. In the absence of a record, it would be unjust to allow the proceedings to stand, as neither the accused nor the State could rely on the details of the prior trial. The separation of trials had previously been ordered, and accused 2 was acquitted. The court determined that the only fair and lawful course was to set aside the proceedings against accused 1 up to the point of separation, thereby enabling the State to institute a new trial de novo.
Obiter and limits
- The loss of trial records undermines the administration of justice and necessitates procedural remedies to protect the rights of both the accused and the State.
- Diligent efforts to reconstruct the record are required before a court will set aside proceedings; only when all avenues are exhausted should such an order be made.
Court disposition
Proceedings against accused 1 up to the separation of trials are set aside to permit a new trial.
- The proceedings against accused 1, Elias Tini Mofokeng, in case number B620/00, up to and including the separation of trials in terms of section 159(3) of Act 51 of 1977, are set aside.
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
Order
IN DIE HOOGGEREGSHOF VAN SUID-AFRIKA
(ORANJE VRYSTAATSE PROVINSIALE AFDELING)
Hersienings Nr. : 993/2005
In die hersiening tussen:
DIE
STAAT
versus
ELIAS
TINI MOFOKENG Beskuldigde 1
_____________
CORAM: KRUGER R et CLAASEN Wnd R
UITSPRAAK DEUR: CLAASEN Wnd R
GELEWER OP: 11 AUGUSTUS 2005
In hierdie aangeleentheid het Elias Tini Mofokeng as eerste beskuldigde tereggestaan saam met Letela Amos Tshabalala op ân klag van aanranding met die opset om ernstig te beseer. Die saak het gedien voor landdros P. Msimanga. Beide beskuldigdes het op 1 April 2001 onskuldig gepleit. Die saak was deelsverhoor en op ân datum waarheen die saak uitgestel is, 25 April 2001 het beskuldigde 1 net nie weer opgedaag nie en spoorloos verdwyn. Die saak is op verskeie geleenthede uitgestel in ân poging om beskuldigde 1 op te spoor. Dit was onsuksesvol gewees. Na verskeie uitstelle het die voorsittende landdros skeiding van verhore gelas in terme van artikel 159(3) van Wet 51 van 1977. Die verhoor is toe op 31 Augustus 2001 teen beskuldigde 2 afgehandel in die afwesigheid van beskuldigde 1. Beskuldigde 2 is vrygespreek.
Beskuldigde 1 is gedurende 2005 opgespoor waar hy tans besig is om ân vonnis uit te dien op ân ander saak.
Die landdros van Bethlehem het nou ân skrywe aan die Griffier gerig. Daaruit blyk dat die kassette van die vorige gedeeltelike verhoorde saak teen beskuldigde 1 verlore geraak het of reeds vernietig is. Die betrokke voorsittende landdros kon ook nie sy notas opspoor nie. Die landdros van Bethlehem, Mev. M.H. Visser, berig dat sy ondersoek ingestel het na die omstandighede rondom die verlore rekord en dat dit nie moontlik is om die saakrekord te rekonstrueer nie. Na deeglike ondersoek deur al die betrokke partye is daar geen hoop om die rekord te rekonstrueer nie.
Landdros Msimanga bevestig in ân dokument dat hy nie meer oor enige notas van die saak beskik nie en dat hy dit nêrens kon opspoor nie. Hy vermoed dat sy notas saam met die kassette vernietig is. Hy bevestig dat hy nie in staat is om die rekord te rekonstrueer nie.
ân Sekere dame, A.F. Muller, verklaar onder eed dat sy die klerk van die hof te Bethlehem is en dat sy oral en na die beste van haar vermoë na klagstaat B620/00 gesoek het en dat sy slegs die klagstaat kon opspoor tussen die afgehandelde sake. Volgens haar blyk dit dat die betrokke kassette reeds vernietig is en dat geen verdere rekord daarvan opgespoor kan word nie.
Die versoek is nou dat die verrigtinge ten opsigte van beskuldigde 1 tot en met die skeiding van die verhore in terme van artikel 159(3) van Wet 51 van 1977 tersyde gestel kan word ten einde die Staat in staat te stel om beskuldigde 1 de novo te verhoor.
Na oorweging van die verklarings van die betrokke persone vermeld, word die volgende bevel gemaak:
1. Die verrigtinge ten opsigte van beskuldigde 1, Elias Tini Mofokeng, in saak nr. B620/00, tot en met die skeiding van verhore, in bogemelde saak, in terme van artikel 159(3) van Wet 51 van 1977, word tersyde gestel.
_______
J.Y. CLAASEN, Wnd R
Ek stem saam.
_____
A. KRUGER, R
/sp
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