S v Govazela

• Jurisdiction: South Africa
• Judgment Date: 07 May 1987
• Citation: 1987 (4) SA 297 (O)

S v Govazela
1987 (4) SA 297 (O)

1987 (4) SA p297

Citation	1987 (4) SA 297 (O)
Court	Oranje-Vrystaatse Provinsiale Afdeling
Judge	Van Coller R en Malherbe R
Heard	May 7, 1987
Judgment	May 7, 1987

Flynote : Sleutelwoorde

Strafproses — Getuienis — Getuies — Oproep, ondervraging en weerlegging van — Kruisondervraging — Deur beskuldigde — Verpligting op beskuldigde om soveel van sy weergawe aan elke Staatsgetuie te stel as wat tersake is op betrokke getuie se getuienis — Verkeerd vir hof om vir beskuldigde te sê dat hy nie sy verweer C hoef te stel nie — Voorsittende beamptes herinner aan hulle plig om ongeletterde beskuldigdes te help om hul verweer gedurende kruisondervraging te stel.

Headnote : Kopnota

Daar is 'n verpligting op 'n beskuldigde in 'n strafverhoor om soveel van sy weergawe van die saak aan elke Staatsgetuie te D stel as wat tersake is in die lig van die betrokke getuie se getuienis. Waar daar aan 'n beskuldigde deur die voorsittende beampte gesê word dat hy sy verweer kan stel, maar dat hy nie verplig is om dit aan die hof te openbaar nie, kan dit verwarring skep. Die beskuldigde kan dit so vertolk dat hy nie sy weergawe hoef te stel nie, wat nie korrek sou wees nie. Die beskuldigde behoort eerder meegedeel te word dat hy sy weergawe of soveel daarvan as wat betrekking het op die aspekte E waaromtrent die getuie getuienis gegee het, moet stel.

Voorsittende beamptes herinner aan hulle plig om ongeletterde en eenvoudige beskuldigdes te help met die stel van hul verwere gedurende kruisondervraging, soos uiteengesit in S v Sebatana 1983 (1) SA 809 (O) op 812. F

Flynote : Sleutelwoorde

Criminal procedure — Evidence — Witnesses — Calling, examination and refutation of — Cross-examination — By accused — Duty of accused to put to every State witness so much of his version as is relevant to the particular witnesses' evidence — Wrong for court to tell accused that he does not have to put his defence — Presiding officers reminded of their duty to assist illiterate accused to put their defence G during cross-examination.

Headnote : Kopnota

A duty rests on an accused in a criminal trial to put so much of his case to every State witness as is relevant in the light of the evidence of the particular witness. Where a presiding officer tells an accused that he can put his defence, but that he is not obliged to disclose it to the court, it can cause confusion. The accused could interpret it to mean that he does not have to put his version to the witnesses, but that would not be correct. The accused ought rather to be informed that H his version, or so much of it as concerns the matters upon which the witness has testified, must be put.

Presiding officers reminded of their duty to assist illiterate and simple accused persons in putting their defence(s) to witnesses during cross-examination, as set out in S v Sebatana 1983 (1) SA 809 (O) at 812. I

Case Information

Hersiening.

Judgment

Van Coller R:

Die beskuldigde is in die landdroshof te Kroonstad skuldig bevind aan roof. Hy is gevonnis tot ses J maande...