IN THE HIGH COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA
FREESTATE DIVISION , BLOEMFONTEIN
Not reportable
CASE NO: 4258/2023
In the matter between:
LEBOHANG CHARLES FOKISI PLAINTIFF
and
THE MINISTER OF POLICE DEFENDANT
Neutral citation: Lebohang Charles Fokisi v the Minister of Police (4258/2023 )
[2015 ] ZAFSHC ( 6 May 2025 )
Coram: Greyling -Coetzer AJ
Heard: 15 and 16 October 2024, 6 December 2024 and 7 February 2025
Delivered : 6 May 2025
Judgment by : Greyling -Coetzer AJ
Summary : Unlawful a rrest and detention – Criminal Procedure Act, 51 of 1977 –
section 40(1)(h) – Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act, 140 of 1992 – section 5 –
undesirable dependence -producing substance – Criminal Procedure Act, 51 of
1977 – section 59 – Schedule 2, Part II
2
________________________________________________________________
ORDER
1. The plaintiff’s claim is dismissed , with costs.
________________________________________________________________
JUDGMENT
GREYLING -COETZER AJ:
[1] The plaintiff claim s damages in amount of R 450 000,00 arising from a
unlawful arrest and detention by members of the South African Police Service
acting in the course and scope of their employment with the service .1
[2] The parties were ad idem that the issues for determination were i) the
lawfulness of the arrest and detention and ii) the quantum of the plaintiff’s claim.
[3] The defendant specifically placed reliance on Section 40(1)(h) of the
Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 (‘CPA’) in justification of the arrest and
detention.
[4] It was common cause t he plaintiff had complied with section 3 of the
Institution of Legal Proceedings Against Certain Organs of State, Act 40 of 2002;
the plaintiff was arrested without a warrant by members of the South African
Police Service acting within the course and scope of their duties ; the plaintiff was
arrested on Friday the 18th of November 2022 on suspicion of committing an
offence in terms of the Drugs And Drugs Trafficking Act, 140 of 1992, as amended
being the ‘dealing in dagga ’; the plaintiff was detained from date of arrest until
Monday the 21st of November 2022 when he was taken to court; and the plaintiff
was released from the court holding cells on Monday the 21st of November 2022,
without appearing in court.
[5] The plaintiff contends that he was selling boxer tobacco divided into small
1 During closing argument it was contended on behalf of the Plaintiff that a more appropriate
award would be in the region of R120 000,00 to R150 000.00
3
packages referred to as ‘bankies’ , which packages he had in his possession at
the time of arrest.
[6] The defendant called two police officers to testify. They were Constable
Sigcawu , the arresting officer and the investigating officer, Sergeant Molefe.
[7] Constable Sigcawu testified that in 20 22 he was deployed at
Phutahadijhaba. On the day in question he and his team were conducting crime
prevention duties. They were in full uniform and driving slowly along the road near
the Tsitseng Taxi Rank. They were travelling in a white marked Volkswagen
Transporter police vehicle. He was unable to recall who was driving but per his
recollection they were 3 police officer in the vehicle , which included Constable
Phofi . He was sitting at the sliding passenger door which was slightly open.
[8] He observed an individual, later identified as the plaintiff, approximately
25 metres ahead of the police vehicle. As the vehicle approached, the plaintiff
repeatedly looked back in its direction. Upon noticing this behaviour, the officer
continued to obse rve the plaintiff for a minute or two and formed the opinion that
his conduct was suspicious. He explained that, unlike other individuals on the
street who appeared to be engaged in their ordinary activities, the plaintiff was
fixated on the police veh icle, watching it closely as it advanced slowly. When the
vehicle came to a stop approximately three metres from the plaintiff and
Constable Sigcawu was about to alight, the plaintiff suddenly fled the scene on
foot.
[9] Constable Sigcawu gave chase and, shortly before apprehending the
plaintiff, observed the plaintiff discard an object resembling a bag onto the
ground. Throughout the pursuit, he maintained uninterrupted visual contact with
both the plaintiff and the discarded item. He apprehended the plaintiff by seizing
him from behind at the waist. With the assistance of Constable Phofi, he retrieved
the bag, which was located a few steps away and later described as a red side
bag. Constable Sigcawu then requested the plaintiff’s permission to condu ct a
search of his person. The plaintiff responded by nodding in agreement,
whereupon Constable Sigcawu proceeded to search him .
[10] Constable Sigcawu conducted a search of the plaintiff and discovered,
4
under the plaintiff’s clothing and specifically beneath his right armpit, a plastic
shopping bag containing three smaller plastic -wrapped balls, which he identified ,
based on their appearance and odour , as dagga. He thereafter proceeded to
search the plaintiff’s red side bag, where he found additional packages, similarly
identified as dagga by their visual characteristics and smell. These packages
were individually sealed in transparent plastic bags and w ere categorised into
small, medium, and large units commonly referred to as ‘bankies ’. The
transparency of the packaging enabled him to observe the contents without
opening them. Although Constable Sigcawu did not count the individual packages
at the time of arrest, he noted that there were numerous units, which, coupled
with the manner of packaging, led him to reasonably suspect that the plaintiff was
involved in the sale of dagga rather than mere possession. In addition, the plaintiff
was found to be in p ossession of money in the form of both notes and coins.
[11] The plaintiff was thereafter transported to Phuthaditjhaba Police Station,
where the packages were counted and weighed in his presence. The tally
revealed 16 small bankies, 80 medium bankies, and 20 large bankies, with a total
weight of 293.54 grams. The w eight was established using a scale made
available at the police station. However, due to load shedding at the time, the
standard weight certificate form could not be printed and completed.
Consequently, the weight measurement was recorded in the offi cial statement
made by Constable Sigcawu. The dagga was then sealed inside a forensic
evidence bag, booked into the SAP13 register, and the matter was handed over
to the detective branch for further investigation.
[12] Constable Sigcawu testified that he informed the plaintiff of his
constitutional rights in Sesotho , first at the scene what he described as informally
to take him ‘in’ and then at the Phutahadijhaba Police Station the SAPS 14A
Notice of Rights document was signed when he formally arrested the plaintiff . He
explained that before the latter could take place he wanted to establish quantity
and/or the weight of the dagga.
[13] According to Constable Sigwacu he conversed with the plaintiff enquiring
what he was doing with the dagga to which the plaintiff answered he was selling
as he has no job and did so in order to make a living . Qualifying it that dagga was
5
legal .
[14] Constable Sigcawu denied that the plaintiff ever stated that the contents
of the ‘bankies ’ were tobacco. He further rejected the assertion that the contents
of the separated packages were tobacco, reaffirming that he is familiar with the
appearance and odour of dagga. He testified that dagga is distinguishable by its
pungent smell, green leafy appearance, and the presence of small brown seeds.
[15] Cross examination established that there were some discrepancies
between the oral evidence of Constable Sigcawu and his written statement,
essentially as to which packages were found were i.e. on the plaintiff’s person
and in the red side bag. He was also at length cross examined about the
accuracy of the scale used to weigh the packages , scientific composition of dagga
which makes it illegal and whether it’s a dependence producing substance or
undesirous dependence producing substance.
[16] Constable Sigcawu readily made conce ssion where his memory failed
him or the answer solicited was beyond his knowledge, but he was adamant
about the essential facts, namely that he arrested the plaintiff on suspicion of
dealing in what he regarded and observed to be dagga , segregated into packages
for the purpose of selling.
[17] Sergeant Molefe was the second witness called by the defendant. He
testified that he was the investigating officer in the matter. He received the docket
concerning a charge of dealing in dagga the day after the arrest. He proceeded
to interview the plaintiff who he claims verbally admitted to him that he was
dealing in dagga . This was however not confirmed in a statement as the plaintiff
refused to make a statement and elected that he will provide a statement to court
in the warning statement.
[18] Sergeant Molefe proceeded to review the docket which contained the
affidavits of Constable s Sigcawu and Phofi as well as the exhibits . He visually
inspected the exhibits and the content, which was in two forensic bags stored in
SAP13 storage and satisfied him that it was dagga . He did not open the bags but
could see as its transparent and did not weigh it again as the weigh was confirmed
in the affidavits in the docket.
6
[19] Sergeant Molefe confirmed that police bail was not granted by him as the
weight of the dagga was more than 100grams and that the plaintiff was thus
eligible for the court to make a determination on bail. During cross examination
he testified that the plaintiff was not granted police bail due to the seriousness of
the offence . As the plaintiff was arrested on a Friday he proceeded to prepare the
plaintiff for his court appearance on the Monday and completed the required form,
wherein he indicated that the plaintiff could be released on bail by the court.
[20] The plaintiff testified that he is 37 years old. He could not confirm his
identity number but believes he was born in 1987.2 He is unemployed but works
informally as a hawker, selling tobacco . His business method involved buying
bulk Boxer tobacco, repackaging it into small plastic packets for resale. The
packets he used are transparent.
[21] On the morning in question, he was at Sesing where he normally sells
tobacco. He was standing with his black side -bag containing his tobacco products
when he was approached by four police officers not in uniform. He denied
running from the police. He testified that after being approached, one officer
grabbed him by the waist and questioned the contents of the bag. He denied that
his person was searched. On being questioned what the bag contained , he
responded that it was tobacco, but his response was ignored. He was taken to a
police vehicle described as a ‘baby Quantum ’, and taken to Phuthaditjhaba Police
Station .
[22] He was detained upon arrival , placed in a 3.5m x 5m cell with 13 to 14
unknown people. The cell had a working toilet, but no bathing facilities. The cell
was untidy and smelling bad. He slept on the floor with a blanket which was
provided to him. He could not change clothes as he only had the clothes on him ,
and visitors were not allowed over the weekend. He was provided with m eals
which included bread (4 slices at a time) , porridge and hot tea to drink. He
emphasized that other people at Sesing were also carrying bags like his and
2 This contradicted the identify number per the pleadings and documents in the trial bundle. It
resulted in the matter b eing postponed to confirm the identity of the plaintiff. A report was
handed in by agreement compiled by Warrant Officer Steyn in terms of which the fingerprints
of the plaintiff was compared to that on arrest. The parties was ad idem that the plaintiff was
the person arrested.
7
selling similar items but were not stopped or arrested. He stated that the
experience left him afraid of the police and that he was not treated fairly.
[23] He confirmed signing the SAPS 14A Notice of rights and during the
interaction he answered questions but stated that no explanation of the
documents was provided. He was only told where to sign. He testified that this
process was undertaken by the investigating officer. He denied that he was
advised of his right to apply for bail.
[24] He denied that he admitted to dealing in dagga . He claims what he said
was not properly recorded without elaboration as that what exactly was said other
than he was selling tobacco. He denied that the dagga was weighed in his
presen ce, and maintained it was tobacco.
[25] During cross examination he was confronted with his knowledge of
dagga . He denied knowing what dagga looks or smells like, stating he had never
seen it before, and could not distinguish it from tobacco. Confronted with the
improbabilities of this considering the prevalence of dagga he responded that it’s
for the court to decide. He confirmed knowing selling dagga is illegal.
[26] The provisions of section 40(1) of the CPA are relevant. They indicate
that a peace officer may arrest a person without a warrant in several
circumstances.
[27] Before an officer can exercise such a power, the necessary jurisdictional
facts must exist. In Duncan v Minister of Law and Order ,3 the erstwhile Appellate
Division held, per Van Heerden JA, that there are four such jurisdictional facts: (i)
the arrestor must be a peace officer; (ii) he or she must entertain a suspicion; (iii)
it must be a suspicion that the arrestee committed a Schedule 1 offence; and (iv)
the suspicion must rest on reasonable grounds.
[28] The meaning of ‘reasonable grounds’ was considered in R v Van
Heerden ,4 where Galgut AJ held that the term must be interpreted objectively,
and the grounds must be those that would induce a reasonable person to have a
3 [1986] ZASCA 24; [1986] 2 All SA 241 (A); 1986 (2) SA 805 (A) at 818G -H
4 [1958] 3 All SA 125 (T)
8
suspicion. In Mabona and another v Minister of Law and Order and Others ,5
where Jones J confirmed that the test for whether a suspicion is reasonably
entertained is objective. He stated as follows:
‘Would a reasonable man in the second defendant’s position and possessed of the same
information have considered that there were good and sufficient grounds for suspecting
that the plaintiffs were guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery or possession of sto len
property knowing it to have been stolen? It seems to me that in evaluating his information
a reasonable man would bear in mind that the section authorizes drastic police action. It
authorizes an arrest on the strength of a suspicion and without the nee d to swear out a
warrant, i.e. something which otherwise would be an invasion of private rights and
personal liberty.
The reasonable man will therefore analyse and assess the quality of the information at
his disposal critically, and he will not accept it lightly or without checking it where it can
be checked. It is only after an examination of this kind that he will allo w himself to
entertain a suspicion which will justify an arrest. This is not to say that the information at
his disposal must be of sufficiently high quality and cogency to engender in him a
conviction that the suspect is in fact guilty. The section requir es suspicion but not
certainty. However, the suspicion must be based upon solid grounds. Otherwise, it will
be flighty or arbitrary, and not a reasonable suspicion.’
[29] The jurisdictional facts in the context of section 40(1)( h) can be
summarised as follows : (i) The arresting officer must be a peace officer ; (ii) the
arresting officer must entertain a reasonable suspicion ; and (iii) that the arrestee
is committing or of having committed an offence under any law governing the
making, supply, possession or conveyance of intoxicating liquor or of
dependence -producing drugs or the possession or disposal of arms or
ammunition .
[30] In Minister of Safety and Security v Sekhoto and Another6, the Supreme
Court of Appeal, per Harms DP, held that once the jurisdictional that the officer
is entitled to exercise such a discretion as he or she deems fit, provided that he
or she stays within the bounds of rationality. The court went on to remark as
5 [1988] 3 All SA 408 (SE)
6 [2010] ZASCA 141; 2011 (5) SA 367 (SCA); 2011 (1) SACR 315 (SCA); [2011] 2 All SA 157
(SCA)
9
follows:
‘While the purpose of arrest is to bring the suspect to trial the arrestor has a limited role
in that process. He or she is not called upon to determine whether the suspect ought to
be detained pending a trial. That is the role of the court… The purpose of the arrest is no
more than to bring the suspect before the court… so as to enable that role to be
performed. It seems to me to follow that the enquiry to be made by the peace officer is
not how best to bring the suspect to trial: the enquiry is only whethe r the case is one in
which that decision ought properly to be made by a court… Whether his decision on that
question is rational naturally depends upon the particular facts but it is clear that in cases
of serious crime - and those listed in Schedule 1 are serious, not only because the
Legislature thought so - a peace officer could seldom be criticized for arresting a suspect
for that purpose. On the other hand there will be cases, particularly where the suspected
offence is relatively trivial, where the circ umstances are such that it would clearly be
irrational to arrest…’
[31] In Biyela v Minister of Police7 noted that the standard of a reasonable
suspicion for arrest is very low. The reasonable suspicion must be more than a
hunch; it should not be an unparticularised suspicion. It must be based on specific
and articulable facts or information. Whether the suspicion was reasonable, under
the prevailing circumstances, is determined objectively. Whether that information
would later, in a court of law, be found to be inadmissible is irrelevant for the
determination of whether the arresting office at the time of arrest harboured a
reasonable suspension.
[32] What was thus required in the present instance is that
the arresting officer must have form a reasonable suspicion that plaintiff is or was
committing an offence ‘under any law governing the making, supply, possession, or
conveyance of intoxicating liquor or of dependence -producing drugs or the possession
or disposal of arms or ammunition. . . ’. In this instance, the relevant law was the
Drugs Act, in particular section 5 (b).
[33] Section 5(b) of the Drugs Act, prohibits anyone from dealing in any
dangerous dependence producing substance or any undesirable dependence –
7 (1017/2020) [2022] (1 April 2022) ZASCA 36
10
producing substance. Those include cannabis.8 Cannabis (dagga) is per Part III
of Schedule 2 of the Drugs Act listed as an undesirable dependence -producing
substance .
[34] ‘Deal in’ is defined ‘in relation to a drug, includes performing any act in
connection with the transhipment, importation, cultivation, collection,
manufacture, supply, prescription, administration, sale, transmission or
exportation of the drug’.9
[35] The correct approach to be adopted when a court faces two mutually
destructive versions is set out in National Employers' General Insurance Co Ltd
v Jagers10 where Eksteen AJP said : ‘It seems to me, with respect, that in any civil
case, as in any criminal case, the onus can ordinarily only be discharged by adducing
credible evidence to support the case of the party on whom the onus rests. In a civil case
the onus is obviously not as h eavy as it is in a criminal case, but nevertheless where
the onus rests on the plaintiff as in the present case, and where there are two mutually
destructive stories, he can only succeed if he satisfies the Court on a preponderance of
probabilities that hi s version is true and accurate and therefore acceptable, and that the
other version advanced by the defendant is therefore false or mistaken and falls to be
rejected. In deciding whether that evidence is true or not the Court will weigh up and test
the pla intiff's allegations against the general probabilities. The estimate of the credibility
of a witness will therefore be inextricably bound up with a consideration of the
probabilities of the case and, if the balance of probabilities favours the plaintiff, t hen the
Court will accept his version as being probably true. If however the probabilities are
evenly balanced in the sense that they do not favour the plaintiff's case any more than
they do the defendant's, the plaintiff can only succeed if the Court neve rtheless believes
him and is satisfied that his evidence is true and that the defendant's version is false.’
[36] It is trite and was also so agreed between the parties that the defendant
bears the onus to prove the lawfulness of the arrest and detention. That said as
per Minister of Safety and Security v Sekhoto & Another11, while the overall onus
to prove that the arrest was lawful remains to be on the Minister, once the Minister
8 Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and Others v Prince (Clarke and Others
Intervening); National Director of Public Prosecutions and Others v Rubin; National Director of
Public Prosecutions and Others v Acton (CCT108/17) [2018] ZACC 30; 2018 (10) BCLR 1220
(CC); 2018 (6) SA 393 (CC); 2019 (1) SACR 14 (CC) (18 September 2018) par [83]
9 Section 1 of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act 140 of 1992
10 National Employers' General Insurance Co Ltd v Jagers 1984 (4) SA 437 (E) 440E to 441B
11 [2010] ZASCA 141; 2011 (5) SA 367 (SCA) par 7
11
has established the jurisdictional facts required for a defence based on section
40(1), the arrest is prima facie lawful. An arrestee ( plaintiff in this case) who
contends that the police officers did not exercise the discretion to arrest lawfully
must plead and prove facts which show that the discretion was exercised
unlawfully. If the appellant does not do so, the lawfulness of the arrest can be
confirmed.
[37] Constable Sigcawu is a single witness in respect of the arrest and so is
Sergeant Molef e in respect of the detention post arrest until release. The Plaintiff
in turn is a single witness in respect of his version. Considering the totality of the
evidence before me and weighing up both the defendant’s evidence and that of
the plaintiff and test ing same against general probabilities, the probabilities favour
the defendant.
[38] I accept the evidence of the Constable Sigcawu, who carried out the
arrest and that: he noticed the plaintiff's reaction when he saw the police vehicl e;
that the plaintiff commenced running the moment the police vehicles was
stopped ; that he then apprehended the plaintiff . Further that he found the plaintiff
in possession of various packages bankies of dagga . Based on experience and
knowledge of dagga he was able to visually identify it as dagga by its appearance
and by smell ; and the manner of packaging that he formed a suspicion12 that the
plaintiff was committing or of having committed the offence of dealing in dagga
and arrested the plaintiff lawfully ;13 that the plaintiff was taken to the police station
soon as was possible and proper procedures were followed .14
[39] Constable Sigcawu’s version is to some extent confirmed by the plaintiff
in that he was grabbed by the waist. It is improbable that it would have been
necessary to grab him by the waist if the plaintiff was merely approached by the
police men as testified to by the plaintiff or that they would not have search his
person.
[40] It is not disputed that, at the time of his apprehension, the plaintiff was
12 See Mabona and Another v Minister of Law and Order and Others 1988 (2) SA 654 (SE) 658E
in respect of a reasonable suspicion, albeit in terms of section 40(1)(b)
13 The arrest was for possession of drugs in terms of section 40(1)( h) of the Criminal Procedure
Act
14 See section 50 of the Criminal Procedure Act
12
found in possession of various packages comprising small, medium, and large
‘bankies ’ and that these packages were arranged or prepared in a manner
consistent with onward sale. The plaintiff, however, denied that the contents of
the packages were dagga and asserted that it was tobacco. It is improbable that,
being able to visually inspect the contents through the transparent packaging —
as well as to detect its odour —Constable Sigcawu would nonetheless have
mistakenly concluded that the substance was dagga ra ther than tobacco.
[41] It is equally unlikely that Constable Sigcawu would have proceeded to
arrest the plaintiff in such circumstances absent a reasonable belief that the
substance was indeed dagga. There exists a clear and recognisable distinction
between dagga and tobacco, ev en to the ordinary person. I find it highly
implausible that the plaintiff, a 37 -year-old hawker operating near a taxi rank, has
never in his life encountered dagga, yet simultaneously claims to know that its
sale is unlawful.
[42] A reasonable person in the position of Constable Sigcawu, upon
encountering an individual in possession of multiple packages presented in a
manner indicative of preparation for onward sale, and being equipped with
knowledge of the appearance and smell of dagga, as well as the legal distinction
that possession may be permitted while the sale, supply, or dealing in dagga is
prohibited, and having identified —both visually and olfactorily —the contents as
prima facie dagga, would have had reasonable and pro bable grounds to suspect
that the individual was engaged in the sale of those packages and, therefore,
dealing in dagga.15
[43] The argument on behalf of the plaintiff that the defendant has failed to
prove that the content was in fact dagga is misplaced. It is not a prerequisite for
an arrest to be lawful that the facts upon which the suspicion is based should be
proven. As articu lated in Biyela v Minister of Police16 whether that information
would later, in a court of law, be found to be inadmissible is irrelevant for the
determination of whether the arresting office at the time of arrest harboured a
reasonable suspension. Applying aforesaid, whether Constable Sigcawu was in
15 Compare Minister of Safety and Security v Sekhoto and Another 2011 (5) SA 367 (SCA),
[ 2011 ] 2 All SA 157 ( SCA ) par 32
16 (1017/2020) [2022] (1 April 2022) ZASCA 36
13
fact correct on his prima facie view that the content was dagga is irrelevant. His
prima facie view that is was dagga founded on his observations and experience
was sufficient at that point.
[44] The argument on behalf of the plaintiff that the defendant did not prove
the plaintiff committed the act of ‘transacting’, suffers a similar fate . It is not the
case of the defendant that the offence of dealing in dagga was committed in his
presence or that actual transacting took place upon which the reasonable
suspension was formed. This argument seems to suggest that each of the
elements of a sp ecific crime had to be proven before an arrest could take place.
[45] In line with the prescripts of section 50 of the CPA the plaintiff was taken
to the police station. There the packages were counted, weighed and found to be
293,54 grams.
[46] It was argued on behalf of the plaintiff that the arresting officer was clearly
not aware that the presumption clause relating to dealing had been invalidated S
v Bhulwana, S v Gwadiso17 as far back as 1995. This argument was founded on
the testimony of Constable Sigcawu that he regarded it as dealing oppose to
possession due to the quantity of packages found and later confirmed weigh of
more than 100g rams.
[47] Section 21(1)(a)(i) of the Drugs Act provides that: 'If in the prosecution of
any person for an offence referred to – (a) in section 13(f) it is proved that the accused -
(i) was found in possession of dagga exceeding 115 grams;...it shall be presumed, until
the contrary is proved, that the accused dealt i n such dagga or substance ;'
[48] In S v Bhulwana, S v Gwadiso18 the court ordered that: ‘ The following
provisions of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act, 140 of 1992 are declared to be
inconsistent with the Republic of South Africa Constitution Act 200 of 1993 and are, with
effect from the date of this judgment, declared to be invalid and of no force and effect:
(a) section 21(1)(a)(i); (b) the words 'dagga or' in sec tion 21(1)(a). ’
[49] Although i t is correct that said presumption is invalid and no longer has
17 (CCT12/95, CCT11/95) [1995] ZACC 11; 1996 (1) SA 388; 1995 (12) BCLR 1579 (29
November 1995)
18 (CCT12/95, CCT11/95) [1995] ZACC 11; 1996 (1) SA 388; 1995 (12) BCLR 1579 (29
November 1995) par [34]
14
any force and effect, I fail to see how it finds application in the present matter.
The effect of the invalidity merely requires the prosecution in a criminal trial to
prove dealing notwithstanding the weight of dagga. It further, a presumption that
find application during criminal prosecutions and it does not decriminalise dealing
in dagga. Dealing in dagga is still a criminal offence and to form the suspension
that a person is dealing in dagga the quantity of the dagga is one factor to
consider. It would require the arresting officer and later the prosecutor to exercise
their discretion founded on all available information including the quantity to
determine what the person should be arrested for and/or charged with.
[50] The court in Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and
Others v Prince (Clarke and Others Intervening); National Director of Public
Prosecutions and Others v Rubin; National Director of Public Prosecutions and
Others v Acton19 held: ‘…In determining whether or not a person is in possession of
cannabis for a purpose other than for personal consumption, an important factor to be
taken into account will be the amount of cannabis found in his or her possession. The
greater the amount of cannabis of which a person is in possession, the greater the
possibility is that it is possessed for a purpose other than for personal
consumption. Where a person is charged with possession of cannabis, the State will
bear the onus to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the purpose of the possession
was not personal consumption.
…
The above reading -in means that, if a police officer finds a person in possession of
cannabis, he or she may only arrest the person if, having regard to all the relevant
circumstances, including the quantity of cannabis found in that person’s possession, it
can be said that there is a reasonable suspicion that a person has committed an offence
under section 40(1)(b) or (h) of the Criminal Procedure Act. I think that the references to
possession of cannabis, “for personal use,” or “for personal consumption” help to ensure
that we do not have to specify the amount or quantity of cannabis that may be
possessed. We only need to say that the amount that may be possessed is an amount
for personal consumption.
19 (CCT108/17) [2018] ZACC 30; 2018 (10) BCLR 1220 (CC); 2018 (6) SA 393 (CC); 2019 (1)
SACR 14 (CC) (18 September 2018) par [110]
15
…
At a practical level, a question that arises is: if a police officer finds someone in
possession of cannabis, how will he or she know whether that person is in possession
of that cannabis for personal consumption? Will he or she rely on that person’s
word ? Will he or she ask questions aimed at establishing that? Obviously, a police
officer will ask the person questions but his or her answers will not be decisive. The
police officer will need to have regard to all the relevant circumstances and take a vi ew
whether the cannabis possessed by a person is for personal consumption. If he or she
takes the view, on reasonable grounds, that that person’s possession of cannabis is not
for personal consumption, he or she may arrest the person. If he or she takes the view
that the cannabis in the person’s possession is for that person’s personal consumption,
he or she will not arrest him or her. ’
[51] Constable Sigcawu’s conduct aligns with aforesaid in that he found
various packages, packages in a fashion that suggested onward sale to him. The
suspicion of dealing in dagga was preliminary formed. He proceeded with the
plaintiff to the police station. The packages were then counted, and the weight
was established . This satisfied him and resulted him to classification of the
offence as serious . The plaintiff was then formally arrested and detained.
[52] That is however not the end of the matter. The question remains whether
Constable Sigcawu properly exercised his discretion to arrest.20 The
establishment of the jurisdictional facts and the exercise of the discretion to arrest
can however not be seen in a vacuum. It remains a general requirement that any
discretion must be exercised in good faith, rationally and not arbitrarily, which, in
turn, meant that ‘ peace -officers are entitled to exercise their discretion as they see fit,
provided that they stay within the bounds of rationality. The standard is not breached
because an officer exercises the discretion in a manner other than that deemed optimally
by the court. A number of choices may be open to him, all of which may fall within the
range of rationality. The sta ndard is not perfection or even the optimum, judged from the
vantage of hind -sight – so long as the discretion is exercised within this range, the
standard is not breached ’.21
20 Minister of Safety and Security v Sekhoto & Another, [2010] ZASCA 141; 2011 (5) SA 367
(SCA); 2011 (1) SACR 315 (SCA); [2011] 2 All SA 157 (SCA)
21 Minister of Safety and Security v Sekhoto & Another, [2010] ZASCA 141; 2011 (5) SA 367
(SCA); 2011 (1) SACR 315 (SCA); [2011] 2 All SA 157 (SCA)
16
[53] The plaintiff pleaded an array of circumstances to challenge the exercise
of the discretion, but placed little before court other than argument in
substantiating same. It was inter alia argued on behalf of the plaintiff and as
traversed above that it was not proved that the plaintiff committed the act of
dealing or that it was dagga therefore the discretion was not exercised. The same
reasoning applies as set out above, in that it was not a prerequisite for the
discretion to be exercised properly that these fact at that stage had to be proven.
[54] During cross -examination, it was put to Constable Sigcawu that he failed
to exercise any discretion prior to effecting the arrest. In response, he testified
that he had, in fact, exercised his discretion, having regard to the circumstances
known to him at the time. These included the items found in the plaintiff’s
possession, the quantity and packaging of the substances , which he prima facie
identified as dagga , and the manner in which they were segregated. He further
stated that his discretion was inf luenced by the plaintiff’s conduct in fleeing the
scene immediately upon the police vehicle coming to a stop, and that the sole
purpose of the arrest was to ensure the plaintiff was brought before a court of law
to answer for the suspected offence of deali ng in dagga, and for no ulterior or
improper purpose.
[55] The plaintiff did not identify any facts that were known to the arresting
officer which ought to have persuaded him not to arrest and detain the plaintiff ,
let alone facts which show that the decision to arrest was made in bad faith,
irrationally or arbitrarily.
[56] For was far as the alleged explanation that the content of the packages
was tobacco which was ignored, it was already found that improbable. Even
assuming for the present purpose that that was probable Constable Sigcawu ,
was in a position to consider same and from his observation of the content as
dealt with above prima facie establish the veracity of such explanation .
[57] Once the plaintiff was under arrest, a bail application became necessary
to ensure his freedom. Constable Sigcawu testified that his roll ended once he
arrested the plaintiff and handed the plaintiff to the detectives. His is correct in
17
that he was unable to give the plaintiff police bail as he was not a police officer of
or above the rank of non - commissioned officer.
[58] Section 59(1)(a) of the CPA provides that: ‘An accused who is in custody in
respect of any offence, other than an offence - (i) referred to in Part II or Part III of
Schedule 2;….may, before his or her first appearance in a lower court, be released on
bail in respect of such offence by any police official of or above the rank of non -
commissioned officer, in consultation with the police official charged with the
investigation, if the accused deposits at the police station the sum of money determined
by such poli ce official .’
[59] It was argued on behalf of the plaintiff that section 59 of the CPA gave
the investigating officer a discretion to release the plaintiff on police bail, which
discretion was not exercised or improperly exercised in that the investigating
officer regarded the offence as serious by incorrectly having regard to the weight
and value of the dagga. I am unable to agree.
[60] Section 59(1)(a) of the CPA only authorises police bail in certain
circumstances . It expressly excludes police bail where the person is in custody in
respect of an offence referred to in Part II or Part II of Schedule 2.
[61] Part II of Schedule 2 lists: ‘… Any offence under any law relating to the
illicit- (a) possession of - (i) dagga exceeding 115 grams; or (ii) any other
dependence -producing drugs; or (b) conveyance or supply of dependence -
producing drugs…’
[62] Although the plaintiff was not suspected of possession per se,
possession it is unavoidable linked or relates to dealing . The facts reveal that the
plaintiff had in his possession dagga exceeding 115 grams. In addition ‘deal in’
includes performing any act in connection with inter alia supply of dependence
producing drugs.22
[63] Sergeant Molefe was thus not empowered to give the plaintiff police bail
and aligns with the evidence that regard is had to the seriousness of the offence,
which is understood to mean whether it falls under section 59 of the CPA.
22 Section1 of the Drugs and Drug trafficking Act 140 of 1992
18
[64] For the reasons traversed above , I find on a preponderance of
probabilities ; the arrest and detention of the plaintiff was lawful, and the plaintiff
failed to prove that the discretion was exercised improperly. The claims must fail.
[65] There is no circumstances justifying a departure from the general rule
that costs should not follow the event.23
[66] Consequently the following order is made:
1. The plaintiff’s claim is dismissed, with costs.
______________
D GREYLING -COETZER
ACTING JUDGE OF THE HIGH COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA
COUNSEL FOR THE
PLAINTIFF : ADV GERBER
INSTRUCTED BY: LOUBSER VAN WYK INC ATTORNEYS
info@louwalt.co.za
C/O JACOBS FOURIE INC
pventer@jacobsfourie.co.za
COUNSEL FOR THE
DEFENDANT : ADV MOFOKENG
INSTRUCTED BY: STATE ATTORNEY , BLOEMFONTEIN
RCanham@justice.gov.za
23 Myers v Abramson, 1951(3) SA 438 (C) at 455;