Search judgments by proposition, citation, court, judge or legal topic, then move directly into the source-grounded case analysis.
Results update automatically as you type.
South Africa decisions
Decisions matching the current search
Dlomo v S (459/2014) [2022] ZAKZPHC 33; 2023 (1) SACR 314 (KZP) (5 August 2022)
The court held the State did not prove planned or premeditated murder beyond reasonable doubt, and reduced life imprisonment to 22 years.
Xaba v S (CA78/2019) [2022] ZANWHC 34 (22 April 2022)
The High Court granted condonation for a late appeal, allowed the sentence appeal, and reduced life imprisonment to 30 years’ imprisonment.
S v Rautenbach (SS 40/2006) [2021] ZAGPJHC 349; [2021] 2 All SA 206 (GJ); 2021 (2) SACR 18 (GJ) (7 January 2021)
The court found that the trial court erred in excluding certain hearsay evidence regarding the deceased's depression and suicidal ideation, as it was reliable and relevant to the question of suicide. However, after weighing all admissible evidence, including forensic and circumstantial facts, the court concluded that the appellant's version was untruthful and contradicted by objective evidence. The appellant's conduct after the death, manipulation of the crime scene, and implausible explanations demonstrated deliberate actions inconsistent with innocence. The circumstantial evidence satisfied…
Source excerpt
Mlangeni v S (A230/2017) [2019] ZAFSHC 204 (24 October 2019)
The High Court found a sentencing misdirection, held that the prescribed minimum sentence had been misapplied, and reduced the appellant’s sentence to 12 years.
Zulu v S (A66/2017) [2018] ZAGPPHC 393 (1 June 2018)
The High Court dismissed a rape and assault conviction appeal but reduced three life sentences to 20 years each, running concurrently.
Khoale v S (A247/17) [2018] ZAGPJHC 717 (2 February 2018)
The High Court upheld a rape conviction, finding the complainant credible and the appellant’s emails and SMS supported non-consensual sex, but reduced sentence for pre-trial custody.
Bam v S (CA15/2014) [2015] ZAECMHC 63 (20 August 2015)
The appeal succeeded because the trial court erred in finding that the murder was committed with dolus directus and that common purpose was proved. The evidence showed the appellant intended to threaten the deceased, not to kill him, but subjectively foresaw the possibility of death (dolus eventualis). There was no prior agreement or active association to establish common purpose. The appellant's immediate and genuine remorse, his status as a first offender, his financial assistance to the deceased's family, and his guilty plea constituted substantial and compelling circumstances justifying a…
Source excerpt
Mahlangu v S (A118/15) [2015] ZAGPPHC 834 (31 July 2015)
The High Court upheld the rape conviction but reduced the sentence from life imprisonment to 26 years, finding substantial and compelling circumstances.
S v Masemola (A886/14) [2014] ZAGPPHC 955 (24 November 2014)
The High Court set aside an unlawful magistrates’ sentence, revoked a review certificate, and replaced eight years’ imprisonment with three years’ direct imprisonment.
Van Der Ross v S (A 41/12) [2012] ZAWCHC 155 (3 August 2012)
The High Court dismissed an appeal against conviction for robbery with aggravating circumstances, but reduced the sentence from 15 to 12 years.
Explore more
