S v Visagie and Others (208/2004) [2004] ZANCHC 41 (17 November 2004)
- Citation
- [2004] ZANCHC 41
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- South Africa
- Court
- Northern Cape High Court, Kimberley
- Panel
- Williams, Musi
- Case number
- 208/2004
More details
- Court
- Northern Cape High Court, Kimberley
- Panel
- Williams, Musi
- Case number
- 208/2004
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The court found that the sentences imposed on accused 1 and 2 were disproportionate to their personal circumstances and prospects for rehabilitation. Accused 1, although previously convicted, was still a youthful offender who had not yet experienced imprisonment, and a shorter effective term was deemed more appropriate. Accused 2, a first offender and scholar, should not have been sentenced to imprisonment, as there was no compelling reason to deviate from the general principle of keeping first-time youthful offenders out of prison. The court held that the probation officer's unsupported assertion regarding accused 2's role as the 'mastermind' was insufficient to justify a harsher sentence. Accordingly, the sentences for accused 1 and 2 were set aside and replaced with more suitable alternatives, while the sentence for accused 3 was confirmed as appropriate given his criminal history.
Court disposition
Sentences for accused 1 and 2 set aside and replaced with more appropriate sentences; sentence for accused 3 confirmed.
Orders
- The convictions of all three accused are confirmed, as is the sentence imposed on accused 3.
- The sentences imposed on accused 1 and 2 are set aside and replaced as follows: Accused 1 is sentenced to two years' imprisonment, of which twelve months are suspended for four years on condition that he is not convicted of theft or attempted theft during the period of suspension. Accused 2 is sentenced to nine months' imprisonment, wholly suspended for four years on condition that he is not convicted of theft or attempted theft during the period of suspension.
02
Material facts
Parties
The State
ApplicantRandall Visagie
RespondentJonothan Moggott
RespondentCecil Louw
RespondentAmounts and remedies
- Value of Stolen Property: ZAR 1,200
03
Procedural history
Posture
Criminal Review / Review of Sentences Imposed by Magistrate's Court
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether the sentences imposed on accused 1 and 2 were appropriate given their personal circumstances and the nature of the offence.
- 02
Whether a wholly suspended sentence should have been considered for accused 2, a first offender and scholar.
- 03
Whether the effective term of imprisonment for accused 1 was justified.
Party arguments
- Applicant
- The prosecution supported the sentences imposed by the magistrate, emphasizing the seriousness of theft from motor vehicles and the need for deterrence. The State argued that the sentences reflected the gravity of the offence and the interests of the community.
- Respondent
- The accused, through their legal representatives and probation officer reports, argued for more lenient sentences, highlighting their youth, lack of prior imprisonment, and prospects for rehabilitation. For accused 2, it was contended that a wholly suspended sentence was appropriate given his status as a first offender and his ongoing education.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
S v Zinn 1969 (2) SA 537 (A)
Sentences must balance the seriousness of the offence, the interests of the community, and the personal circumstances of the accused, especially youthful offenders.
- 02
S v Khumalo 1973 (3) SA 697 (A)
First offenders, particularly youths, should be kept out of prison where possible, and suspended sentences are appropriate in suitable cases.
- 03
General sentencing principles
The court should not accept unsubstantiated allegations about an accused's role in the offence without clear evidence.
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The court found that the sentences imposed on accused 1 and 2 were disproportionate to their personal circumstances and prospects for rehabilitation. Accused 1, although previously convicted, was still a youthful offender who had not yet experienced imprisonment, and a shorter effective term was deemed more appropriate. Accused 2, a first offender and scholar, should not have been sentenced to imprisonment, as there was no compelling reason to deviate from the general principle of keeping first-time youthful offenders out of prison. The court held that the probation officer's unsupported assertion regarding accused 2's role as the 'mastermind' was insufficient to justify a harsher sentence. Accordingly, the sentences for accused 1 and 2 were set aside and replaced with more suitable alternatives, while the sentence for accused 3 was confirmed as appropriate given his criminal history.
Obiter and limits
- The court emphasized that imprisonment often serves as a school for criminality rather than rehabilitation, especially for youthful offenders.
- The magistrate's concern about the prevalence of theft from vehicles was valid, but sentencing must remain individualized and proportionate.
- Probation officer recommendations must be substantiated and not accepted without scrutiny.
Court disposition
Sentences for accused 1 and 2 set aside and replaced with more appropriate sentences; sentence for accused 3 confirmed.
- The convictions of all three accused are confirmed, as is the sentence imposed on accused 3.
- The sentences imposed on accused 1 and 2 are set aside and replaced as follows: Accused 1 is sentenced to two years' imprisonment, of which twelve months are suspended for four years on condition that he is not convicted of theft or attempted theft during the period of suspension. Accused 2 is sentenced to nine months' imprisonment, wholly suspended for four years on condition that he is not convicted of theft or attempted theft during the period of suspension.
Source and reliance status
Northern Cape High Court, Kimberley
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.
Northern Cape High Court, Kimberley
Judgment
VERSLAGWAARDIG JA/NEE
SIRKULEER ONDER REGTERS JA/NEE
SIRKULEER ONDER LANDDROSTE JA/NEE
IN DIE HOOGGEREGSHOF VAN SUID-AFRIKA
(Noord-Kaapse Afdeling)
SAAKNOMMER:208/2004
DATUM GELEWER:17-11-2004
In die saak van:
DIE STAAT
teen
RANDALL
VISAGIE
JONOTHAN
MOGGOT
CECIL
LOUW
Coram: Williams R et Musi WnR
HERSIENINGSUITSPRAAK
WILLIAMS R:
Die drie beskuldigdes in hierdie saak is in die Landdroshof te Britstown skuldig bevind aan diefstal van twee voertuigwiele met wieldoppe ter waarde van R1 200,00 en is as volg gevonnis:
Beskuldigde 1, tot twee jaar gevangenisstraf waarvan ses maande opgeskort is vir ân tydperk van vier jaar op sekere voorwaardes;
Beskuldigde 2, tot agtien maande gevangenisstraf waarvan ses maande opgeskort is vir ân tydperk van vier jaar onderhewig aan sekere voorwaardes; en
Beskuldigde 3, tot dertig maande gevangenisstraf.
Toe hierdie hiersieningsaak aanvanklik voor Majiedt R dien, het hy die onmiddellike vrylating van Beskuldigde 2, gelas en die landdros versoek om redes te verskaf waarom ân korter effektiewe termyn van gevangenisstraf nie vir beskuldigde 1 oorweeg is nie, en waarom ân algehele opgeskorte vonnis vir Beskuldigde 2 nie as vanpas beskou is nie.
Ten tye van vonnisoplegging was beskuldigde 1, 19 jaar oud, werkloos, en met een vorige veroordeling vir diefstal waarop hy skuldig bevind is ses maande voor die huidige misdryf gepleeg is.
Beskuldige 2 is 18 jaar oud, ân skolier in graad 11 en ân eerste oortreder. Beskuldigde 3 is 20 jaar oud, werkloos, en het twee vorige veroordelings, een vir huisbraak met die opset om te steel en diefstal en een vir huisbraak met die opset om te steel.
Voorvonnisverslae is ten opsigte van al drie beskuldigdes aangevra en die proefbeampte wat self ook getuig het, het ten opsigte van beskuldigde 1 ân vonnis ooreenkomstig artikel 276(1)h aanbeveel, ân opgeskorte vonnis vir beskuldigde 2 en ân vonnis ooreenkomstig artikel 276(1)(i) vir beskuldigde 3.
Die vonnis wat beskuldigde 3 opgelê is verg na my mening geen inmenging nie. Hy het in die verlede reeds ân opgeskorte vonnis gekry vir huisbraak met die opset om te steel en diefstal wat toe later in werking gestel is na die tweede veroordeling. Volgens die landdros het hy reeds ân periode van vyftien maande in die gevangenis deurgebring voordat hy hom later aan die huidige misdryf skuldiggemaak het. Die vonnis van dertig maande gevangenisstraf wat hy huidiglik opgelê is, is na my mening dus heeltemal vanpas.
Die probleem ontstaan egter ten opsigte van beskuldigdes 1 en 2. Beskuldigde 1 is met sy vorige veroordeling van diefstal ân vonnis opgelê van R500,00 of drie maande gevangenisstraf wat ten volle opgeskort is. Die opgeskorte gedeelte van die vonnis mag nou in werking gestel word, maar voor die huidige skuldigbevinding het hy nog nooit gevangesetting as ân gevonnisde beleef nie.
Soos die landdros tereg opmerk, neem diefstal vanaf en vanuit motorvoertuie kommerwekkende afmetings aan, wat dikwels lei tot groot ongerief en skade. Tog moet daar ân ewewig gehandhaaf word tussen die misdryf, die gemeenskapsgevoel en die persoonlike omstandighede van die beskuldigde. Ek stem saam dat gevangenisstraf nie onvanpas is in die geval van beskuldigde 1, wat reeds ân geleentheid gegun was om te besin oor misdadigheid nie. Nietemin is beskuldigde 1 ân jeugdige oortreder wat in alle waarskynlikheid nog rehabiliteerbaar is. Ondervinding het ook geleer dat die gevangenisopset, veral vir jeugdiges, meer dikwels dien as ân leerskool vir misdadigheid eerder as wat dit rehabilitasiewaarde het.
Ek is van mening dat ân korter effektiewe termyn van gevangenisstraf vir beskuldigde 1 van meer waarde en meer gepas is.
Beskuldigde 2 is ân algehele eerste oortreder en ân persoon wat klaarblyklik begerig is om sy skoolopleiding te voltooi. Hy is ook die jongste van die beskuldigdes. Gevangesetting onder hierdie omstandighede en vir hierdie tipe van misdryf, druis sterk in teen die beginsels van vonnisoplegging.
Dit blyk asof die hoofrede waarom ân algehele opgeskorte vonnis vir hierdie beskuldigde nie oorweeg is nie, gegrond is op die ongemotifeerde stelling van die proefbeampte dat beskuldigde 2 blykbaar die âmeersterbreinâagter die driestuks se negatiewe gedrag is. Hierdie stelling is moeilik versoenbaar met die beskuldigde se skoon rekord en skolastiese vordering, en moes na my mening nie sondermeer as ân feit aanvaar word nie. Eerste oortreders, en veral jeugdiges moet sover moontlik uit die gevangenis gehou word en in hierdie besondere geval bestaan daar geen aanvaarbare rede om af te wyk van hierdie algemene beginsel nie.
In die omstandighede word die volgende bevel gemaak.
1. Die skuldigbevindings ten opsigte van al drie beskuldigdes word bekragtig, so ook die vonnis opgelê teen beskuldigde 3.
2. Die vonnisse opgelê teen beskuldigdes 1 en 2 word tersyde gestel en vervang met die volgende:
âBeskuldige 1 word gevonnis tot twee (2) jaar gevangenisstraf waarvan twaalf (12) maande opgeskort word vir ân periode van vier (4) jaar op voorwaarde dat beskuldigde nie skuldig bevind word aan diefstal of poging tot diefstal gepleeg gedurende die tydperk van opskorting nie.
Beskuldigde 2 word gevonnis tot nege (9) maande gevangenisstraf wat in geheel opgeskort word vir ân tydperk van vier (4) jaar op voorwaarde dat beskuldigde nie skuldig bevind word aan diefstal of poging tot diefstal gepleeg gedurende die tydperk van opskorting nie.â
______
C. C. WILLIAMS
REGTER
Ek stem saam.
C. J. MUSI
WAARNEMENDE REGTER
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