S v Thomas en Ander (SS12/2010) [2011] ZAWCHC 534 (30 November 2011)
- Citation
- [2011] ZAWCHC 534
- Status
- Order
- Jurisdiction
- South Africa
- Court
- Western Cape High Court, Cape Town
- Panel
- Fortuin R
- Case number
- SS12/2010
More details
- Court
- Western Cape High Court, Cape Town
- Panel
- Fortuin R
- Case number
- SS12/2010
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The court held that the constitutional principle of open justice should be maintained and that in camera proceedings are only justified in exceptional circumstances. The State's application for a closed hearing was dismissed, but the court ordered that the identities of the previous two witnesses and details of the witness protection programme must not be disclosed or published. The court found a practical way to balance the protection of witness identities with the public's right to open court proceedings. Any breach of these protective orders would constitute contempt of court and a criminal offence under the relevant statutes.
Court disposition
The State's application for in camera proceedings was dismissed. Protective orders regarding witness identities and publication bans were granted.
Orders
- The State's application under section 153 of the Criminal Procedure Act is dismissed; the testimony of Cockrell will be heard in open court.
- Witness Cockrell and any court official are prohibited from disclosing the identities of the previous two witnesses or any details of the witness protection programme.
- Any non-compliance with this order by any official will constitute contempt of court with associated consequences.
- No information regarding the identities of the previous two witnesses or details of the witness protection programme may be published under section 154 of the Criminal Procedure Act.
- Any person who publishes information in contravention of this order will be guilty of an offence under section 174(3) of Act 21 of 1998.
02
Material facts
Parties
Die Staat
ApplicantGeorge Thomas
RespondentJason Stynder
RespondentFred Williams
RespondentPeter McNiel
RespondentDerrick Claasen
RespondentGiovanni Kannemeyer
RespondentAlfonso van Heerden
RespondentHerman Wakefield
RespondentMogammat Stemmet
RespondentJerome Karlmeyer
RespondentAshley Appollis
RespondentKenneth Lavita
RespondentHoward Jansen
RespondentRonald Swarts
RespondentGregory Meyer
RespondentAshraf Ryklief
RespondentRodney Joubert
RespondentAshwin Charles
RespondentReyaaz Dennis
Respondent03
Procedural history
Posture
Criminal Law Application / Application Under Sections 153, 154, and 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether the court should grant an order for in camera proceedings under section 153 of the Criminal Procedure Act.
- 02
Whether the identities of previous witnesses and details of the witness protection programme should be protected from disclosure.
- 03
Whether publication of information relating to protected witnesses should be prohibited.
Party arguments
- Applicant
- The State applied for an order under section 153 of the Criminal Procedure Act to have the testimony of witness Cockrell heard in camera, arguing that disclosure of the identities of previous witnesses and details of the witness protection programme would compromise their safety and the integrity of the programme.
- Respondent
- The respondents opposed the application, relying on the constitutional principle of open justice as enshrined in section 36(3)(c) of the Constitution, arguing that in camera proceedings should not be granted lightly and that the public's right to open court proceedings should be upheld unless there are compelling reasons.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
Section 36(3)(c) of the Constitution
Orders for in camera hearings should not be granted lightly; the principle of open court must not be set aside without merit.
- 02
Section 153 and 154 of the Criminal Procedure Act
The identities of protected witnesses and details of the witness protection programme must be safeguarded from disclosure.
- 03
Section 174(3) of Act 21 of 1998
Any person who publishes information contrary to a court order protecting witness identities commits an offence.
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The court held that the constitutional principle of open justice should be maintained and that in camera proceedings are only justified in exceptional circumstances. The State's application for a closed hearing was dismissed, but the court ordered that the identities of the previous two witnesses and details of the witness protection programme must not be disclosed or published. The court found a practical way to balance the protection of witness identities with the public's right to open court proceedings. Any breach of these protective orders would constitute contempt of court and a criminal offence under the relevant statutes.
Obiter and limits
- The court emphasized that the open court principle is fundamental and should not be overridden without substantial justification.
- The judge noted that practical measures exist to protect witness identities while still upholding constitutional values.
Court disposition
The State's application for in camera proceedings was dismissed. Protective orders regarding witness identities and publication bans were granted.
- The State's application under section 153 of the Criminal Procedure Act is dismissed; the testimony of Cockrell will be heard in open court.
- Witness Cockrell and any court official are prohibited from disclosing the identities of the previous two witnesses or any details of the witness protection programme.
- Any non-compliance with this order by any official will constitute contempt of court with associated consequences.
- No information regarding the identities of the previous two witnesses or details of the witness protection programme may be published under section 154 of the Criminal Procedure Act.
- Any person who publishes information in contravention of this order will be guilty of an offence under section 174(3) of Act 21 of 1998.
Source and reliance status
Western Cape High Court, Cape Town
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.
Western Cape High Court, Cape Town
Order
IN DIE HOOGGEREGSHOF VAN SUID-AFRIKA
(WES-KAAP HOE HOF, KAAPSTAD)
SAAKNOMMER: SS12/2010
DATUM: 30 NOVEMBER 2011
In die saak tussen:
DIE STAAT
en
GEORGE
THOMAS
Beskuldigde 1
JASON
STYNDER
Beskuldigde 2
FRED
WILLIAMS
Beskuldigde 3
PETER
MCNIEL
Beskuldigde 4
DERRICK
CLAASEN
Beskuldigde 5
GIOVANNI
KANNEMEYER
Beskuldigde 6
ALFONSO
VAN HEERDEN
Beskuldigde 7
HERMAN
WAKEFIELD
Beskuldigde 8
MOGAMMAT
STEMMET
Beskuldigde 9
JEROME
KARLMEYER
Beskuldigde 10
ASHLEY
APPOLLIS
Beskuldigde 11
KENNETH
LAVITA
Beskuldigde 12
HOWARD
JANSEN
Beskuldigde 13
RONALD
SWARTS
Beskuldigde 14
GREGORY
MEYER
Beskuldigde 15
ASHRAF
RYKLIEF
Beskuldigde 16
RODNEY
JOUBERT
Beskuldigde 17
ASHWIN
CHARLES
Beskuldigde 18
REYAAZ
DENNIS
Beskuldigde 19
UITSPRAAK
(Aansoek in terme van artikel 153 en 154 en 74)
FORTUIN, R
Lasgewinge vir in camera verhore behoort nie ligtelik gegee te word nie. Die ope hof beginsel, wat vervat word in artikel 36(3)(c) van die Grondwet, moet nie sonder meriete ongedaan gemaak word nie. Dit is egter 'n feit dat 'n lasgewing wat die effek sal he dat Staggie se identiteit openbaar mag word, 'n streep sal trek deur die Hof se vroeere bevele dat Staggie en sy vrou se identiteit beskerm moet word.
Na aanhoor van betoe blyk dit dat daar 'n prakties uitvoerbare wyse is om die twee vorige getuies se identiteite te beskerm en terselfdertyd
die grondwetlike beginsel tot die reg tot 'n ope hof te handhaaf. Gevolglik maak ek die volgende bevel:
1. Die aansoek van die Staat in terme van artikel 153 van die Strafproseswet WORD VAN DIE HAND GEWYS. Die getuienis van Cockrell sal in 'n ope hof aangehoor word. Getuie Cockrell sowel as enige ander hofamptenaar word verbied om die identiteit van die vorige twee getuies op enige wyse te openbaar, asook enige besonderhede van die getuiebeskermingsprogram. Enige nie-nakoming van hierdie bevel deur enige amptenaar sal neerkom op minagting van die Hof met gepaardgaande gevolge.
2. In terme van artikel 154 van die Strafproseswet mag geen informasie rakende die identiteit van die twee vorige getuies of besonderhede van die getuiebeskermingsprogram gepubliseer word nie.
3. In terme van artikel 174(3) van Wet 21 van 1998, sal enige persoon wie enige informasie in stryd met hierdie bevel bekend maak, skuldig wees aan 'n misdryf.
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