S v Mokgokane and Others (775/08) [2009] ZAFSHC 40 (26 March 2009)
- Citation
- [2009] ZAFSHC 40
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- South Africa
- Court
- Free State High Court, Bloemfontein
- Panel
- Van der Merwe, R, Jordaan, R
- Case number
- 775/08
More details
- Court
- Free State High Court, Bloemfontein
- Panel
- Van der Merwe, R, Jordaan, R
- Case number
- 775/08
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The court found that the record of proceedings was materially defective, as the entire evidence of accused one and two and the main evidence of accused three were missing. The magistrate confirmed that the recording device failed and his notes were lost, making reconstruction impossible. In these circumstances, the accused are deprived of the benefit of automatic review, which is intended to ensure that convictions and sentences are in accordance with justice. The defect is not attributable to any fault on the part of the accused. Accordingly, the convictions and sentences must be set aside to protect the rights of the accused and uphold the integrity of the criminal justice process.
Court disposition
Convictions and sentences of accused one, two, and four are set aside.
Orders
- The convictions and sentences of Thipe Benjamin Mokgokane, Lebohang Simon Mablea, and Petrus Pule Maputsi are set aside.
02
Material facts
Parties
Thipe Benjamin Mokgokane
DefendantLebohang Simon Mablea
DefendantPetrus Pule Maputsi
DefendantThe State
Applicant03
Procedural history
Posture
Review Application / Automatic Review Under Section 302 of the Criminal Procedure Act
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether the convictions and sentences can stand in light of a materially defective record of proceedings.
- 02
Whether the accused are entitled to the benefit of automatic review under section 302 of the Criminal Procedure Act.
Party arguments
- Applicant
- The State did not oppose the setting aside of the convictions and sentences, as the record was materially defective and could not be reconstructed. The magistrate reported that the recording device failed and his notes were lost, making it impossible to provide a complete record.
- Respondent
- The accused did not have an opportunity to make submissions due to the nature of automatic review, but they are entitled to the benefit of review to determine whether the proceedings were in accordance with justice. The absence of a proper record prejudices their rights.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
Section 302 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977
Where the record of criminal proceedings is materially defective and cannot be reconstructed, the convictions and sentences must be set aside to protect the rights of the accused.
- 02
S v Chabedi 2005 (1) SACR 415 (SCA)
Automatic review is intended to ensure that convictions and sentences are in accordance with justice, and a defective record deprives the accused of this safeguard.
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The court found that the record of proceedings was materially defective, as the entire evidence of accused one and two and the main evidence of accused three were missing. The magistrate confirmed that the recording device failed and his notes were lost, making reconstruction impossible. In these circumstances, the accused are deprived of the benefit of automatic review, which is intended to ensure that convictions and sentences are in accordance with justice. The defect is not attributable to any fault on the part of the accused. Accordingly, the convictions and sentences must be set aside to protect the rights of the accused and uphold the integrity of the criminal justice process.
Obiter and limits
- The court accepted the magistrate's explanation regarding the loss of the record and found no reason to doubt the veracity of his report.
- The setting aside of convictions and sentences in cases of defective records is necessary to ensure fairness, even where the accused are not at fault.
Court disposition
Convictions and sentences of accused one, two, and four are set aside.
- The convictions and sentences of Thipe Benjamin Mokgokane, Lebohang Simon Mablea, and Petrus Pule Maputsi 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
Judgment
VRYSTAAT HOË HOF,
BLOEMFONTEIN
REPUBLIEK VAN SUID-AFRIKA
Hersiening Nr. : 775/08
In die hersiening tussen:-
DIE
STAAT
versus
THIPE BENJAMIN MOKGOKANE Beskuldigde een
LEBOHANG SIMON MABELEA Beskuldigde twee
PETRUS PULE MAPUTSI Beskuldigde vier
_____________
CORAM: VAN DER MERWE, R et JORDAAN,
R
UITSPRAAK DEUR: VAN DER MERWE, R
GELEWER OP: 26 MAART 2009
[1] Die voormelde drie persone, beskuldigdes een, twee en vier by die verhoor, is elk skuldigbevind aan diefstal van vyf beeste en gevonnis tot 14 (veertien) maande gevangenisstraf waarvan 4 (vier) maande gevangenisstraf opgeskort is vir 4 (vier) jaar op voorwaarde dat die beskuldigdes nie skuldigbevind word aan diefstal gepleeg gedurende die tydperk van opskorting nie.
[2] Die gemelde beskuldigdes se vonnisse is onderworpe aan outomatiese hersiening ingevolge die bepalings van artikel 302 van die Strafproseswet, Nr. 51 van 1977. Die oorkonde van die verrigtinge wat vir hierdie doel na hierdie Hof gestuur is, is egter wesenlik gebrekkig. Die gehele getuienis van beskuldigdes nommer een en twee en die hoofgetuienis van geskuldigde drie ontbreek. By navraag rapporteer die landdros dat hy vasgestel het dat die opnamemasjien op die betrokke dag om een of ander onverklaarbare rede geen opname van die verrigtinge gemaak het nie, dat sy notas intussen verlore geraak het en dat dit nie moontlik is om die vermiste gedeelte van die oorkonde van verrigtinge te rekonstrueer nie. Daar is geen rede waarom hierdie mededelings nie aanvaar sal word nie.
[3] Die beskuldigdes is geregtig op die voordeel van outomatiese hersiening van die verriginge ten einde te bepaal of dit ooreenkomstig die reg was. Omdat die oorkonde wesenlik gebrekkig is, is hierdie voordeel vir die beskuldigdes verlore, sonder enige skuld aan hul kant. In hierdie omstandighede moet die skuldigbevindings en vonnisse tersyde gestel word.
[4] Die skuldigbevindings en vonnisse van beskuldigdes een, twee en vier word tersyde gestel.
________
C.H.G. VAN DER MERWE, R
Ek stem saam.
___
A.F. JORDAAN, R
/sp
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