South Africa: North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA

GAUTENG DIVISION, PRETORIA

HIGH COURT REFERENCE NO.: 239/2017

MAGISTRATE'S SERIAL NO.:  29/2017

CASE NO.: K513/2017

A506/17

DATE: 3/10/2017

In the matter between:

THE STATE

and

THABISO MAGOBOTWANE

REVIEW JUDGEMENT

DEVOS J:

[1] In this matter the accused was convicted and sentenced after pleading guilty in terms of section 112(1)(b) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977. Subsequent thereto the matter was forwarded to this Court for review. The Reviewing Judge queried the conviction in terms of the provisions of section l 12(1(b) and remarked that in his view, the questions by the Presiding Magistrate and the responses thereto by the accused, did not meet the requirements of section 112(1)(b) in that the elements of intent and unlawfulness were not met.

[2] The Presiding Magistrate conceded, in his reply to the abovementioned query,  that  the requirements as referred to were indeed not met and that a plea of "not guilty" should have been recorded.

[3] It follows  from  the aforesaid  that  the conviction  and  sentence  imposed  by the Presiding Magistrate cannot stand and are to be set aside.

I THEREFORE MAKE THE FOLLOWING ORDER:

a)        The conviction and sentence imposed are set aside.

b)        The matter is referred back to the Magistrates Court to be heard de novo before another Magistrate.

c)        The accused is to be released from custody immediately.

____________________________

DE VOS J

JUDGE OF THE GAUTENG DIVISION

OF THE HIGH COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA

I agree.

____________________________

MAAKANE AJ

ACTING JUDGE OF THE GAUTENG DIVISION

OF THE HIGH COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA