S v Johannes

JurisdictionSouth Africa
JudgeCorbett AR, Diemont AR en Viljoen Wn AR
Judgment Date23 March 1979
Citation1980 (1) SA 531 (A)
Hearing Date06 March 1979
CourtAppellate Division

Diemont AR:

Die klaer in hierdie saak, Siegfried Beck, is woonagtig te Schopenhauerstraat, Windhoek. Gedurende Desember 1976 was hy met vakansie van sy huis afwesig; toe hy op 13 Januarie 1977 terugkeer, is hy in kennis gestel dat daar ingebreek is en dat die huis deur misdadigers letterlik gestroop is.

D Drie jong Owambomans, Elias Ipinge (beskuldigde nr 1), Armas Shikeengo (beskuldigde nr 2) en Reinhold Johannes (beskuldigde nr 3) is in hegtenis geneem en aangekla van die misdaad van huisbraak en diefstal. Die saak het ses maande later, op 22 Julie 1977, voor STRYDOM R in die Hooggeregshof te Windhoek gedien.

E Beskuldigdes het onskuldig gepleit maar is skuldig bevind - die eerste twee, Ipinge en Shikeengo, van diefstal en die derde beskuldigde, Johannes, van huisbraak en diefstal. Vonnisse van tronkstraf is opgelê; een jaar en drie jaar respektiewelik in die geval van Ipinge en Shikeengo; Johannes se straf was vyf houe met die lat en vyf jaar gevangenisstraf. F Johannes het aansoek gedoen om teen die skuldigbevinding te appelleer maar die aansoek is op 17 November 1977 deur die Verhoorregter afgewys, nie op die meriete nie, maar wel op grond dat die aansoek nie betyds ingedien is en die feit dat die rede wat aangevoer is, nl dat die appellant nie in die gevangenis skryfpapier kon bekom nie, nie 'n grondige rede was vir die aanhoor van die aansoek nie. 'n Verdere aansoek is daarna op 27 Julie 1978 G aan hierdie Hof gerig en verlof om te appelleer is toegestaan.

Die feite in die saak is betreklik eenvoudig.

[Die geleerde Appèlregter het die getuienis ontleed en soos volg voortgegaan.]

H In die loop van die argument is daar aangevoer dat hoewel Ipinge en Shikeengo medepligtiges is, die versigtigheidsreël nie van toepassing is waar die mede-beskuldigdes medepligtiges is nie maar slegs op medepligtiges wat vir die Staat getuig. Ek kan daardie stelling nie aanvaar nie. Ek verwys na die saak van R v Nhleko 1960 (4) SA 712 (A) te 722 waar SCHREINER AR sê:

'There are two witnesses both of whom are accessories after the fact. In R v Mbonambi 1957 (3) SA 232 (A) FAGAN CJ, giving the judgment of this Court, said at 233 that it was unnecessary to decide whether the cautionary rule about accomplices was applicable to one who was only an accessory after the fact. In England it does apply in such cases (see Davies v Director of Public Prosecutions

Diemont AR

1954 AC 378 at 385). Although the question does not fall under...

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9 practice notes
  • S v Ndwambi
    • South Africa
    • Invalid date
    ...SACR 130 (N): referred to S v Essack and Another 1974 (1) SA 1 (A): referred to S v Hlomza 1987 (1) SA 25 (A): considered S v Johannes 1980 (1) SA 531 (A): referred S v Magidson 1984 (3) SA 825 (T): referred to S v Mkhize [2014] ZASCA 52: referred to B S v Mngqibisa 2008 (1) SACR 92 (SCA) (......
  • S v Zwane and Others (3)
    • South Africa
    • Invalid date
    ...evidence of one accused is admissible against any of his co-accused, subject to the above-mentioned cautionary rule. See S v Johannes 1980 (1) SA 531 (A). The Court will indicate at a later stage whether the witnesses who testified as accomplices should be discharged from prosecution in E t......
  • S v Nooroodien en Andere
    • South Africa
    • Invalid date
    ...in sake soos R v Ncanana 1948 (4) SA 399 (A); S v Avon Bottle Store (Pty) Ltd and Others 1963 (2) SA 389 (A) op 393-4; S v Johannes 1980 (1) SA 531 (A), en is so welbekend dat ek dit onnodig H ag om weer te In R v Mbonambi 1957 (3) SA 232 (A) op 235H is beslis dat die versigtigheidsreël ook......
  • S v Nooroodien en Andere
    • South Africa
    • Northern Cape Division
    • October 2, 1998
    ...in sake soos R v Ncanana 1948 (4) SA 399 (A); S v Avon Bottle Store (Pty) Ltd and Others 1963 (2) SA 389 (A) op 393-4; S v Johannes 1980 (1) SA 531 (A), en is so welbekend dat ek dit onnodig H ag om weer te In R v Mbonambi 1957 (3) SA 232 (A) op 235H is beslis dat die versigtigheidsreël ook......
  • Request a trial to view additional results
9 cases
  • S v Ndwambi
    • South Africa
    • Invalid date
    ...SACR 130 (N): referred to S v Essack and Another 1974 (1) SA 1 (A): referred to S v Hlomza 1987 (1) SA 25 (A): considered S v Johannes 1980 (1) SA 531 (A): referred S v Magidson 1984 (3) SA 825 (T): referred to S v Mkhize [2014] ZASCA 52: referred to B S v Mngqibisa 2008 (1) SACR 92 (SCA) (......
  • S v Zwane and Others (3)
    • South Africa
    • Invalid date
    ...evidence of one accused is admissible against any of his co-accused, subject to the above-mentioned cautionary rule. See S v Johannes 1980 (1) SA 531 (A). The Court will indicate at a later stage whether the witnesses who testified as accomplices should be discharged from prosecution in E t......
  • S v Nooroodien en Andere
    • South Africa
    • Invalid date
    ...in sake soos R v Ncanana 1948 (4) SA 399 (A); S v Avon Bottle Store (Pty) Ltd and Others 1963 (2) SA 389 (A) op 393-4; S v Johannes 1980 (1) SA 531 (A), en is so welbekend dat ek dit onnodig H ag om weer te In R v Mbonambi 1957 (3) SA 232 (A) op 235H is beslis dat die versigtigheidsreël ook......
  • S v Zwane and Others (3)
    • South Africa
    • Witwatersrand Local Division
    • Invalid date
    ...evidence of one accused is admissible against any of his co-accused, subject to the above-mentioned cautionary rule. See S v Johannes 1980 (1) SA 531 (A). The Court will indicate at a later stage whether the witnesses who testified as accomplices should be discharged from prosecution in E t......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

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