S v Mohapi (746/07) [2007] ZAFSHC 72 (25 October 2007)

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[2007] ZAFSHC 72
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S v Mohapi (746/07) [2007] ZAFSHC 72 (25 October 2007)

IN THE HIGH COURT
OF SOUTH AFRICA
(ORANGE
FREE STATE PROVINCIAL DIVISION)
Review No. : 746/07
In
the review between:-
THE
STATE
versus
JOSEPH
MOHAPI
_____________________________________________________
CORAM:
BECKLEY
et
KRUGER,
JJ
_____________________________________________________
JUDGMENT:
BECKLEY,
J
_____________________________________________________
DELIVERED
ON:
25
OCTOBER 2007
_____________________________________________________
[1] The matter came
before this Court by way of automatic review.
[2] The
accused was correctly convicted by the magistrate, Lindley, of
housebreaking with intent to steal and theft.
[3] The
magistrate imposed the following sentence:
“
3 (Drie) jaar gevangenisstraf
ingevolge Artikel 276(1)(b) Wet 51/1977 waarvan 1 (een) jaar
opgeskort word vir 4 (vier) jaar op voorwaarde
dat beskuldigde nie
skuldig bevind word aan diefstal of huisbraak met die opset om ‘n
misdryf te pleeg, gepleeg gedurende die tydperk
van opskorting nie.”
[4] Hattingh, J sent the
following query to the magistrate:
“
1. Is die opskortingsvoorwaarde
‘skuldig bevind aan diefstal’ nie te wyd nie?
2. Behoort
dit nie gekwalifiseer te word dat vonnis aan ‘n latere
skuldigbevinding aan diefstal onopgeskorte gevangenisstraf moet
wees?”
[5] In his reasons for
sentence the magistrate conceded that the condition of suspension
relating to theft has been cast too wide,
regard having been had to
Hiemstra:
Suid
Afrikaanse Strafproses
,
6
th
Edition, p. 763, wherein the cases of
S
v VAN ROOYEN; S v JANTJIES EN 'N ANDER
,
1974 (3) SA 319
(NK) were cited with approval, regarding the contents
of conditions of suspension.
[6] In
the result, the conviction is confirmed.
[7] To
salvage the accused from going to jail, in the event of him
committing petty theft, the sentence is amended to read as follows:
“
3
(Three) years imprisonment in terms of section 276(1)(b) of Act
51/1977, of which 1 (one) year is suspended for 4 (four) years on
condition that the accused is not convicted of:
housebreaking with
intent to commit any offence; or
theft, for which the
accused is sentenced to direct imprisonment without the option of a
fine, or to a fine of more than R2 000,00;
committed during the
period of suspension.”
_______________
A.P. BECKLEY, J
I concur.
____________
A. KRUGER, J
/sp