S vs Moleko [2005] ZAFSHC 160; [2005] ZAFSHC 116 (24 November 2005)

30 Reportability
Criminal Law

Brief Summary

Criminal Law — Assault — Sentencing — Accused convicted of two counts of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and sentenced to R1,000 or five months' imprisonment for each count — Review of sentence and convictions by High Court — Magistrate's reasons for not consolidating sentences questioned — High Court sets aside original sentences and imposes a consolidated fine of R2,000 or ten months' imprisonment.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA
(ORANGE FREE STATE PROVINCIAL DIVISION)
Case Nr.: 12/2005
In the review between:
THE STATE
versus
MOJALEFA ERIC MOLEKO 
_____________________________________________________
CORAM:                       HATTINGH, J et MATSEPE, AJ  
_____________________________________________________
JUDGEMENT:              MATSEPE, AJ
DELIVERED ON:           24 NOVEMBER 2005
_____________________________________________________
The accused herein was convicted on 2 counts of assault with intent 
to do grievous bodily harm and sentenced as follows:­
Count 1: R1   000,00   (one   thousand   rand)   or   5   (five)   months 
imprisonment. 
Count 2: R1 000,00 (one thousand rand) or 5 (five) months 
imprisonment.
He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section  
103(2) of Act 60 of 2000.
The   matter   came   before   this   court   for   review   and   Judge   G.A. 
Hattingh refered it back to the magistrate who dealt with the matter  
in the court a quo, with the following remarks:­
1. Please furnish reasons for:
1.1 The convictions
1.2  The sentence.
2. Why were the convictions not taken together for purposes  
of sentencing?
The magistrate provided reasons on the 21st October 2005.
The magistrates finding on the convictions is confirmed.
With  regard  to  the  reasons  why the  convictions  were  not  taken  
together for the purpose of sentence, his response is that such an  
order is reflected on page 64 of the trial record but not on the J15  
and J4.
The record reads as follows on page 64 to 65:
¡°You are sentenced to two thousand rand ((R2 000,00) or ten (10) months 
imprisonment.
Put it the purpose of the sentence R1 000,00 each account R1 000,00 five 
months, five months.”
2
The sentences are set aside and substituted with:­
For the purpose of sentence, the two charges are taken as one and 
the following sentence is imposed:
Payment of a fine of R2 000,00 (two thousand rand) or 10 (ten) 
months imprisonment.
 ______________
V. MATSEPE, AJ
I concur.
________________
G.A. HATTINGH, J
                                                                     
/em
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