S v Nkondo

• Jurisdiction: South Africa
• Judge: Jordaan AJ
• Judgment Date: 18 February 2000
• Citation: 2000 (1) SACR 358 (W)
• Hearing Date: 18 February 2000
• Counsel: K Ferreira for the State N Mateane for the accused
• Court: Witwatersrand Local Division

Jordaan AJ:

The accused in this matter appeared before the regional court sitting at Orlando. He was convicted of rape and robbery. The matter falls within the ambit of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 105 of 1997. It was therefore sent E to this Court for sentence.

The matter originally came before Masipa J of this Division and she directed the following query to the magistrate:

'1.

It is not clear from the charge sheet or record whether the accused was informed of his rights to legal representation. F

2.

If this was not done, please supply reasons why, bearing in mind that the possible sentence in this matter is life imprisonment.

3.

If the accused was informed of the said rights please explain why this fact does not appear anywhere on the record.'

The presiding regional court magistrate responded in the following terms: G

'1.

Die notule wat aan die agbare Regter voorgelê is, is onvolledig omdat die agterblad van die J15 nie gefotostateer is nie. Beskuldigdes word almal by hul eerste verskyning ingelig van hulle reg tot regsverteenwoordiging en hierdie feit sal op die agterkant van die oorspronklike J15 aangeteken wees. H

2.

Ek moet egter daarop wys dat hierdie beskuldigde se eerste verskyning reeds in Augustus 1998 was. Regter Goldstein se uitspraak in S v P V Mbambo het eers op 25 Augustus 1999 tot...