CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 1 of 221

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977

[ASSENTED TO 21 APRIL 1977] [DATE OF COMMENCEMENT: 22 JULY 1977]

(Afrikaans text signed by the State President)

as amended by
Criminal Procedure Matters Amendment Act 79 of 1978
Criminal Procedure Amendment Act 56 of 1979
Criminal Procedure Amendment Act 64 of 1982
Appeals Amendment Act 105 of 1982
Criminal Law Amendment Act 59 of 1983
Criminal Procedure Matters Amendment Act 109 of 1984
Immorality and Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Amendment Act 72 of 1985
Criminal Procedure Amendment Act 33 of 1986
Special Courts for Blacks Abolition Act 34 of 1986
Transfer of Powers and Duties of the State President Act 97 of 1986
Criminal Procedure Amendment Act 26 of 1987
Law of Evidence and the Criminal Procedure Amendment Act 103 of 1987
Law of Evidence Amendment Act 45 of 1988
Criminal Procedure Amendment Act 8 of 1989
Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure Act Amendment Act 39 of 1989
Judicial Matters Amendment Act 77 of 1989
Criminal Law Amendment Act 107 of 1990
Criminal Procedure Amendment Act 5 of 1991
Transfer of Powers and Duties of the State President Act 51 of 1991
Correctional Services and Supervision Matters Amendment Act 122 of 1991
Criminal Law Amendment Act 135 of 1991
Criminal Law Amendment Act 4 of 1992
Prevention and Treatment of Drug Dependency Act 20 of 1992
Attorney-General Act 92 of 1992
Criminal Law Second Amendment Act 126 of 1992
General Law Amendment Act 139 of 1992
Criminal Matters Amendment Act 116 of 1993
General Law Third Amendment Act 129 of 1993
General Law Fifth Amendment Act 157 of 1993
General Law Sixth Amendment Act 204 of 1993
Criminal Procedure Second Amendment Act 75 of 1995
Justice Laws Rationalisation Act 18 of 1996
General Law Amendment Act 49 of 1996
International Co-operation in Criminal Matters Act 75 of 1996
Criminal Procedure Second Amendment Act 85 of 1996
Criminal Procedure Amendment Act 86 of 1996
Abolition of Restrictions on the Jurisdiction of Courts Act 88 of 1996
Abolition of Corporal Punishment Act 33 of 1997
Criminal Procedure Amendment Act 76 of 1997
Criminal Procedure Second Amendment Act 85 of 1997
Parole and Correctional Supervision Amendment Act 87 of 1997
Criminal Law Amendment Act 105 of 1997
National Prosecuting Authority Act 32 of 1998
Judicial Matters Amendment Act 34 of 1998
Criminal Matters Amendment Act 68 of 1998

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 2 of 221

Maintenance Act 99 of 1998

Correctional Services Act 111 of 1998
Witness Protection Act 112 of 1998
Domestic Violence Act 116 of 1998
Judicial Matters Second Amendment Act 122 of 1998
Judicial Matters Amendment Act 62 of 2000
Criminal Procedure Amendment Act 17 of 2001
Judicial Matters Amendment Act 42 of 2001
Criminal Procedure Second Amendment Act 62 of 2001
Implementation of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court Act 27 of 2002
Judicial Matters Amendment Act 55 of 2002
Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-related
Information Act 70 of 2002
Criminal Procedure Amendment Act 42 of 2003
Judicial Matters Second Amendment Act 55 of 2003
Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act 12 of 2004
Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorist and Related Activities Act 33
of 2004
Judicial Matters Amendment Act 22 of 2005
Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007
Criminal Law (Sentencing) Amendment Act 38 of 2007
Criminal Procedure Amendment Act 65 of 2008
Judicial Matters Amendment Act 66 of 2008
Child Justice Act 75 of 2008
Criminal Law (Forensic Procedures) Amendment Act 6 of 2010
Criminal Procedure Amendment Act 9 of 2012
Criminal Procedure Amendment Act 8 of 2013
Prevention and Combating of Torture of Persons Act 13 of 2013
Judicial Matters Amendment Act 42 of 2013
Criminal Law (Forensic Procedures) Amendment Act 37 of 2013
Legal Aid South Africa Act 39 of 2014

also amended by
Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act 7 of 2013
[with effect from a date to be proclaimed - see PENDLEX]

Regulations under this Act

[NB:S. 45 of the National Prosecuting Authority Act 32 of 1998 reads as follows:
'Any reference in any law to-
(a) an attorney-general shall, unless the context indicates otherwise, be construed as a
reference to the National Director; and
(b) an attorney-general or deputy attorney-general in respect of the area of jurisdiction of
a High Court, shall be construed as a reference to a Director or Deputy Director
appointed in terms of this Act, for the area of jurisdiction of that Court.']

ACT
To make provision for procedures and related matters in criminal
proceedings.
BE IT ENACTED by the State President, the Senate and the House of Assembly of
the Republic of South Africa, as follows:-

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Sections
1 Definitions

CHAPTER 1
2-18 PROSECUTING AUTHORITY

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 3 of 221

CHAPTER 2
19-36 SEARCH WARRANTS, ENTERING OF PREMISES, SEIZURE, FORFEITURE
AND DISPOSAL OF PROPERTY CONNECTED WITH OFFENCES

CHAPTER 3
36A-37 ASCERTAINMENT OF BODILY FEATURES OF PERSONS
[Heading substituted by s. 1 of Act 6 of 2010.]

CHAPTER 4
38 METHODS OF SECURING ATTENDANCE OF ACCUSED IN COURT

CHAPTER 5
39-53 ARREST

CHAPTER 6
54-55 SUMMONS

CHAPTER 7
56 WRITTEN NOTICE TO APPEAR IN COURT

CHAPTER 8
57-57A ADMISSION OF GUILT FINE

CHAPTER 9
58-71 BAIL

CHAPTER 10
72-72A RELEASE ON WARNING

CHAPTER 11
73-74 ASSISTANCE TO ACCUSED

CHAPTER 12
75-76 SUMMARY TRIAL

CHAPTER 13
77-79 ACCUSED: CAPACITY TO UNDERSTAND PROCEEDINGS: MENTAL
ILLNESS AND CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY

CHAPTER 14
80-104 THE CHARGE

CHAPTER 15
105-109 THE PLEA

CHAPTER 16
110-111 JURISDICTION

CHAPTER 17
112-114 PLEA OF GUILTY AT SUMMARY TRIAL

CHAPTER 18
115-118 PLEA OF NOT GUILTY AT SUMMARY TRIAL

CHAPTER 19

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 4 of 221

119-122 PLEA IN MAGISTRATE'S COURT ON CHARGE JUDICIABLE IN

SUPERIOR COURT

CHAPTER 19A
122A-122D PLEA IN MAGISTRATE'S COURT ON CHARGE TO BE ADJUDICATED
IN REGIONAL COURT

CHAPTER 20
123-143 PREPARATORY EXAMINATION

CHAPTER 21
144-149 TRIAL BEFORE SUPERIOR COURT

CHAPTER 22
150-178 CONDUCT OF PROCEEDINGS

CHAPTER 23
179-207 WITNESSES

CHAPTER 24
208-253 EVIDENCE

CHAPTER 25
254-255 CONVERSION OF TRIAL INTO ENQUIRY

CHAPTER 26
256-270 COMPETENT VERDICTS

CHAPTER 27
271-273 PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS

CHAPTER 28
274-299A SENTENCE

CHAPTER 29
300-301 COMPENSATION AND RESTITUTION

CHAPTER 30
302-314 REVIEWS AND APPEALS IN CASE OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS

CHAPTER 31
315-324 APPEALS IN CASES OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS IN SUPERIOR
COURTS

CHAPTER 32
325-327 MERCY AND FREE PARDON

CHAPTER 33
328-345 GENERAL PROVISIONS

DEFINITIONS (s 1)

1 Definitions
(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise indicates-
'aggravating circumstances', in relation to-

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(a) ......
[Para. (a) deleted by s. 1 of Act 107 of 1990.]
(b) robbery or attempted robbery, means-
(i) the wielding of a fire-arm or any other dangerous weapon;
(ii) the infliction of grievous bodily harm; or
(iii) a threat to inflict grievous bodily harm,
by the offender or an accomplice on the occasion when the offence is
committed, whether before or during or after the commission of the
offence;
'bank' means a bank as defined in section 1 of the Banks Act, 1990 (Act 94 of
1990), and includes the Land and Agricultural Bank of South Africa referred to in
section 3 of the Land Bank Act, 1944 (Act 13 of 1944), and a mutual building
society as defined in section 1 of the Mutual Building Societies Act, 1965 (Act 24 of
1965);
[Definition of 'bank' substituted by s. 1 (a) of Act 5 of 1991 and by s. 38 of Act 129 of 1993.]
'charge' includes an indictment and a summons;
'Commissioner', means the Commissioner of Correctional Services as defined in
section 138 of the Correctional Services Act, 1998, or a person authorized by him or
her;
[Definition of 'Commissioner' inserted by s. 35 of Act 122 of 1991 and substituted by s. 137 of
Act 111 of 1998.]
'correctional official' means a correctional official as defined in section 1 of the
Correctional Services Act, 1998;
[Definition of 'correctional official' inserted by s. 35 of Act 122 of 1991 and substituted by s.
137 of Act 111 of 1998.]
'correctional supervision' means a community based sentence to which a
person is subject in accordance with Chapter V and VI of the Correctional Service
Act, 1998, and the regulations made under that Act if-
(a) he has been placed under that section 6 (1) (c);
(b) it has been imposed on him under section 276 (1) (h) or (i) and he, in the
latter case, has been placed under that;
(c) his sentence has been converted into that under section 276A (3) (e) (ii),
286B (4) (b) (ii) or 287 (4) (b) or he has been placed under that section
286B (5) (iii) or 287 (4) (a);
(d) it is a condition on which the passing of his sentence has been postponed
and he has been released under section 297 (1) (a) (i) (ccA); or
(e) it is a condition on which the operation of-
(i) the whole or any part; or
(ii) any part,
of his sentence has been suspended under section 297 (1) (b) or (4),
respectively;
[Definition of 'correctional supervision' inserted by s. 35 of Act 122 of 1991, amended by s. 16
of Act 116 of 1993 and substituted by s. 137 of Act 111 of 1998.]
'criminal proceedings' includes a preparatory examination under Chapter 20;
'day' means the space of time between sunrise and sunset;
'justice' means a person who is a justice of the peace under the provisions of
the Justices of the Peace and Commissioners of Oaths Act, 1963 (Act 16 of 1963);
'law' ......
[Definition of 'law' deleted by s. 1 of Act 49 of 1996.]
'local division' means a local division of the Supreme Court established under
the Supreme Court Act, 1959 (Act 59 of 1959);
'lower court' means any court established under the provisions of the
Magistrates' Courts Act, 1944 (Act 32 of 1944);

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 6 of 221

'magistrate' includes an additional magistrate and an assistant magistrate but

not a regional magistrate;
'magistrate's court' means a court established for any district under the
provisions of the Magistrates' Courts Act, 1944 (Act 32 of 1944), and includes any
other court established under such provisions, other than a court for a regional
division;
'Minister' 1 means the Minister of Justice;
'night' means the space of time between sunset and sunrise;
'offence' means an act or omission punishable by law;
'peace officer' includes any magistrate, justice, police official, correctional
official as defined in section 1 of the Correctional Services Act, 1959 (Act 8 of
1959), and, in relation to any area, offence, class of offence or power referred to in
a notice issued under section 334 (1), any person who is a peace officer under that
section;
[Definition of 'peace officer' amended by s. 4 of Act 18 of 1996.]
'police official' means any member of the Force as defined in section 1 of the
Police Act, 1958 (Act 7 of 1958), and 'police' has a corresponding meaning;
[Definition of 'police official' substituted by s. 1 (b) of Act 5 of 1991.]
'premises' includes land, any building or structure, or any vehicle, conveyance,
ship, boat or aircraft;
'province' ......
[Definition of 'province' deleted by s. 1 of Act 49 of 1996.]
'provincial administration' ......
[Definition of 'provincial administration' deleted by s. 1 of Act 49 of 1996.]
'provincial division' means a provincial division of the Supreme Court
established under the Supreme Court established under the Supreme Court Act,
1959 (Act 59 of 1959);
'regional court' means a court established for a regional division under the
provisions of the Magistrates' Courts Act, 1944 (Act 32 of 1944).
'regional magistrate' means a magistrate appointed under the provisions of
the Magistrates' Courts Act, 1944 (Act 32 of 1944), to the court for a regional
division;
'Republic' ......
[Definition of 'Republic' deleted by s. 1 of Act 49 of 1996.]
'rules of court' means the rules made under section 43 of the Supreme Court
Act, 1959 (Act 59 of 1959), or under section 6 of the Rules Board for Courts of Law
Act, 1985 (Act 107 of 1985);
[Definition of 'rules of court' substituted by s. 1 (c) of Act 5 of 1991.]
'special superior court' ......
[Definition of 'special superior court' deleted by s. 7 of Act 62 of 2000.]
'State' ......
[Definition of 'State' deleted by s. 1 of Act 49 of 1996.]
'superior court' means a provincial or local division of the Supreme Court
established under the Supreme Court Act, 1959 (Act 59 of 1959);
'supreme court' means the Supreme Court of South Africa established under
the Supreme Court Act, 1959 (Act 59 of 1959);
'territory' ......
[Definition of 'territory' deleted by s. 1 of Act 49 of 1996.]
'this Act' includes the rules of court and any regulations made under this Act.
(2) Any reference in any law to an inferior court shall, unless the context of such
law indicates otherwise, be construed as a reference to a lower court as defined in
subsection (1).
1 The administration and the powers or functions entrusted by legislation to the Minister of

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 7 of 221

Justice and Constitutional Development transferred to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
(Proc 47 in GG 37839 of 15 July 2014)

CHAPTER 1
PROSECUTING AUTHORITY (ss 2-18)

2 ......
[S. 2 repealed by s. 44 of Act 32 of 1998.]

3 ......
[S. 3 amended by s. 11 of Act 59 of 1983 and repealed by s. 8 (1) of Act 92 of 1992.]

4 ......
[S. 4 repealed by s. 8 (1) of Act 92 of 1992.]

5 ......
[S. 5 repealed by s. 44 of Act 32 of 1998.]

6 Power to withdraw charge or stop prosecution

An attorney-general or any person conducting a prosecution at the instance of the
State or any body or person conducting a prosecution under section 8, may-
(a) before an accused pleads to a charge, withdraw that charge, in which event
the accused shall not be entitled to a verdict of acquittal in respect of that
charge;
(b) at any time after an accused has pleaded, but before conviction, stop the
prosecution in respect of that charge, in which event the court trying the
accused shall acquit the accused in respect of that charge: Provided that
where a prosecution is conducted by a person other than an attorney-
general or a body or person referred to in section 8, the prosecution shall
not be stopped unless the attorney-general or any person authorized
thereto by the attorney-general, whether in general or in any particular
case, has consented thereto.
[NB: A para. (c) and a sub-s. (2) have been added by s. 36 of the Correctional Services and
Supervision Matters Amendment Act 122 of 1991, a provision which will be put into operation
by proclamation. See PENDLEX.]

7 Private prosecution on certificate nolle prosequi

(1) In any case in which a Director of Public Prosecutions declines to prosecute for
an alleged offence-
(a) any private person who proves some substantial and peculiar interest in the
issue of the trial arising out of some injury which he individually suffered in
consequence of the commission of the said offence;
(b) a husband, if the said offence was committed in respect of his wife;
(c) the wife or child or, if there is no wife or child, any of the next of kin of any
deceased person, if the death of such person is alleged to have been
caused by the said offence; or
(d) the legal guardian or curator of a minor or lunatic, if the said offence was
committed against his ward,
may, subject to the provisions of section 9 and section 59 (2) of the Child Justice Act,
2008, either in person or by a legal representative, institute and conduct a prosecution
in respect of such offence in any court competent to try that offence.
[Sub-s. (1) substituted by s. 99 (1) of Act 75 of 2008.]

(2) (a) No private prosecutor under this section shall obtain the process of any court
for summoning any person to answer any charge unless such private prosecutor

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 8 of 221

produces to the officer authorized by law to issue such process a certificate signed
by the attorney-general that he has seen the statements or affidavits on which the
charge is based and that he declines to prosecute at the instance of the State.
(b) The attorney-general shall, in any case in which he declines to prosecute, at
the request of the person intending to prosecute, grant the certificate referred to in
paragraph (a).
(c) A certificate issued under this subsection shall lapse unless proceedings in
respect of the offence in question are instituted by the issue of the process referred to
in paragraph (a) within three months of the date of the certificate.
(d) The provisions of paragraph (c) shall apply also with reference to a certificate
granted before the commencement of this Act under the provisions of any law repealed
by this Act, and the date of such certificate shall, for the purposes of this paragraph,
be deemed to be the date of commencement of this Act.

8 Private prosecution under statutory right

(1) Any body upon which or person upon whom the right to prosecute in respect of
any offence is expressly conferred by law, may institute and conduct a prosecution in
respect of such offence in any court competent to try that offence.
(2) A body which or a person who intends exercising a right of prosecution under
subsection (1), shall exercise such right only after consultation with the attorney-
general concerned and after the attorney-general has withdrawn his right of
prosecution in respect of any specified offence or any specified class or category of
offences with reference to which such body or person may by law exercise such right
of prosecution.
(3) An attorney-general may, under subsection (2), withdraw his right of
prosecution on such conditions as he may deem fit, including a condition that the
appointment by such body or person of a prosecutor to conduct the prosecution in
question shall be subject to the approval of the attorney-general, and that the
attorney-general may at any time exercise with reference to any such prosecution any
power which he might have exercised if he had not withdrawn his right of prosecution.

9 Security by private prosecutor

(1) No private prosecutor referred to in section 7 shall take out or issue any process
commencing the private prosecution unless he deposits with the magistrate's court in
whose area of jurisdiction the offence was committed-
(a) the amount 2 the Minister may from time to time determine by notice in the
Gazette as security that he will prosecute the charge against the accused to
a conclusion without undue delay; and
[Para. (a) substituted by s. 39 of Act 129 of 1993.]
(b) the amount such court may determine as security for the costs which may
be incurred in respect of the accused's defence to the charge.
[Para. (b) substituted by s. 39 of Act 129 of 1993.]

(2) The accused may, when he is called upon to plead to the charge, apply to the
court hearing the charge to review the amount determined under subsection (1) (b),
whereupon the court may, before the accused pleads-
(a) require the private prosecutor to deposit such additional amount as the
court may determine with the magistrate's court in which the said amount
was deposited; or
(b) direct that the private prosecutor enter into a recognizance, with or without
sureties, in such additional amount as the court may determine.
(3) Where a private prosecutor fails to prosecute a charge against an accused to a
conclusion without undue delay or where a charge is dismissed under section 11, the
amount referred to in subsection (1) (a) shall be forfeited to the State.
2 R2 500 - GN R62 in GG 36111 of 30 January 2013

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 9 of 221

10 Private prosecution in name of private prosecutor

(1) A private prosecution shall be instituted and conducted and all process in
connection therewith issued in the name of the private prosecutor.
(2) The indictment, charge-sheet or summons, as the case may be, shall describe
the private prosecutor with certainty and precision and shall, except in the case of a
body referred to in section 8, be signed by such prosecutor or his legal representative.
(3) Two or more persons shall not prosecute in the same charge except where two
or more persons have been injured by the same offence.

11 Failure of private prosecutor to appear

(1) If the private prosecutor does not appear on the day set down for the
appearance of the accused in the magistrate's court or for the trial of the accused, the
charge against the accused shall be dismissed unless the court has reason to believe
that the private prosecutor was prevented from being present by circumstances
beyond his control, in which event the court may adjourn the case to a later date.
(2) Where the charge is so dismissed, the accused shall forthwith be discharged
from custody and may not in respect of that charge be prosecuted privately again but
the attorney-general or a public prosecutor with the consent of the attorney-general
may at the instance of the State prosecute the accused in respect of that charge.

12 Mode of conducting private prosecution

(1) A private prosecution shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, be proceeded
with in the same manner as if it were a prosecution at the instance of the State:
Provided that the person in respect of whom the private prosecution is instituted shall
be brought before the court only by way of summons in the case of a lower court, or
an indictment in the case of a superior court, except where he is under arrest in
respect of an offence with regard to which a right of private prosecution is vested in
any body or person under section 8.
(2) Where the prosecution is instituted under section 7 (1) and the accused pleads
guilty to the charge, the prosecution shall be continued at the instance of the State.

13 Attorney-general may intervene in private prosecution

An attorney-general or a local public prosecutor acting on the instructions of the
attorney-general, may in respect of any private prosecution apply by motion to the
court before which the private prosecution is pending to stop all further proceedings in
the case in order that a prosecution for the offence in question may be instituted or, as
the case may be, continued at the instance of the State, and the court shall make such
an order.

14 Costs in respect of process

A private prosecutor, other than a prosecutor contemplated in section 8, shall in
respect of any process relating to the private prosecution, pay to the clerk or, as the
case may be, the registrar of the court in question, the fees prescribed under the rules
of court for the service or execution of such process.

15 Costs of private prosecution

(1) The costs and expenses of a private prosecutor shall, subject to the provisions
of subsection (2), be paid by the private prosecutor.
(2) The court may order a person convicted upon a private prosecution to pay the
costs and expenses of the prosecution, including the costs of any appeal against such
conviction or any sentence: Provided that the provisions of this subsection shall not
apply with reference to any prosecution instituted and conducted under section 8:

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Provided further that where a private prosecution is instituted after the grant of a
certificate by an attorney-general that he declines to prosecute and the accused is
convicted, the court may order the costs and expenses of the private prosecution,
including the costs of an appeal arising from such prosecution, to be paid by the State.
[Sub-s. (2) amended by s. 1 of Act 26 of 1987.]

16 Costs of accused in private prosecution

(1) Where in a private prosecution, other than a prosecution contemplated in
section 8, the charge against the accused is dismissed or the accused is acquitted or a
decision in favour of the accused is given on appeal, the court dismissing the charge or
acquitting the accused or deciding in favour of the accused on appeal, may order the
private prosecutor to pay to such accused the whole or any part of the costs and
expenses incurred in connection with the prosecution or, as the case may be, the
appeal.
(2) Where the court is of the opinion that a private prosecution was unfounded and
vexatious, it shall award to the accused at his request such costs and expenses
incurred in connection with the prosecution, as it may deem fit.
[S. 16 substituted by s. 40 of Act 129 of 1993.]

17 Taxation of costs
(1) The provisions of section 300 (3) shall apply with reference to any order or
award made under section 15 or 16 in connection with costs and expenses.
(2) Costs awarded under section 15 or 16 shall be taxed according to the scale, in
civil cases, of the court which makes the award or, if the award is made by a regional
court, according to the scale, in civil cases, of a magistrate's court, or, where there is
more than one such scale, according to the scale determined by the court making the
award.

18 Prescription of right to institute prosecution

The right to institute a prosecution for any offence, other than the offences of-
(a) murder;
(b) treason committed when the Republic is in a state of war;
(c) robbery, if aggravating circumstances were present;
(d) kidnapping;
(e) child-stealing;
(f) rape or compelled rape as contemplated in sections 3 or 4 of the Criminal
Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007,
respectively;
(g) the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, as
contemplated in section 4 of the Implementation of the Rome Statute of the
International Criminal Court Act, 2002; or
(h) trafficking in persons for sexual purposes by a person as contemplated in
section 71 (1) or (2) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related
Matters) Amendment Act, 2007; or
[NB: Para. (h) has been substituted by s. 48 of the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in
Persons Act 7 of 2013, a provision which will be put into operation by proclamation. See
PENDLEX.]
(i) using a child or person who is mentally disabled for pornographic purposes
as contemplated in sections 20 (1) and 26 (1) of the Criminal Law (Sexual
Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007,
shall, unless some other period is expressly provided for by law, lapse after the
expiration of a period of 20 years from the time when the offence was committed.
[S. 18 substituted by s. 27 (1) of Act 105 of 1997, amended by s. 39 of Act 27 of 2002 and
substituted by s. 68 of Act 32 of 2007.]

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 11 of 221

CHAPTER 2
SEARCH WARRANTS, ENTERING OF PREMISES, SEIZURE, FORFEITURE AND
DISPOSAL OF PROPERTY CONNECTED WITH OFFENCES (ss 19-36)

19 Saving as to certain powers conferred by other laws

The provisions of this Chapter shall not derogate from any power conferred by any
other law to enter any premises or to search any person, container or premises or to
seize any matter, to declare any matter forfeited or to dispose of any matter.

20 State may seize certain articles

The State may, in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter, seize anything (in
this Chapter referred to as an article)-
(a) which is concerned in or is on reasonable grounds believed to be concerned
in the commission or suspected commission of an offence, whether within
the Republic or elsewhere;
(b) which may afford evidence of the commission or suspected commission of
an offence, whether within the Republic or elsewhere; or
(c) which is intended to be used or is on reasonable grounds believed to be
intended to be used in the commission of an offence.

21 Article to be seized under search warrant

(1) Subject to the provisions of sections 22, 24 and 25, an article referred to in
section 20 shall be seized only by virtue of a search warrant issued-
(a) by a magistrate or justice, if it appears to such magistrate or justice from
information on oath that there are reasonable grounds for believing that
any such article is in the possession or under the control of or upon any
person or upon or at any premises within his area of jurisdiction; or
(b) by a judge or judicial officer presiding at criminal proceedings, if it appears
to such judge or judicial officer that any such article in the possession or
under the control of any person or upon or at any premises is required in
evidence at such proceedings.
(2) A search warrant issued under subsection (1) shall require a police official to
seize the article in question and shall to that end authorize such police official to search
any person identified in the warrant, or to enter and search any premises identified in
the warrant and to search any person found on or at such premises.
(3) (a) A search warrant shall be executed by day, unless the person issuing the
warrant in writing authorizes the execution thereof by night.
(b) A search warrant may be issued on any day and shall be of force until it is
executed or is cancelled by the person who issued it or, if such person is not available,
by a person with like authority.
(4) A police official executing a warrant under this section or section 25 shall, after
such execution, upon demand of any person whose rights in respect of any search or
article seized under the warrant have been affected, hand to him a copy of the
warrant.

22 Circumstances in which article may be seized without search warrant

A police official may without a search warrant search any person or container or
premises for the purpose of seizing any article referred to in section 20-
(a) if the person concerned consents to the search for and the seizure of the
article in question, or if the person who may consent to the search of the
container or premises consents to such search and the seizure of the article
in question; or
(b) if he on reasonable grounds believes-

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(i) that a search warrant will be issued to him under paragraph (a) of
section 21 (1) if he applies for such warrant; and
(ii) that the delay in obtaining such warrant would defeat the object of
the search.

23 Search of arrested person and seizure of article

(1) On the arrest of any person, the person making the arrest may-
(a) if he is a peace officer, search the person arrested and seize any article
referred to in section 20 which is found in the possession of or in the
custody or under the control of the person arrested, and where such peace
officer is not a police official, he shall forthwith deliver any such article to a
police official; or
(b) if he is not a peace officer, seize any article referred to in section 20 which
is in the possession of or in the custody or under the control of the person
arrested and shall forthwith deliver any such article to a police official.
(2) On the arrest of any person, the person making the arrest may place in safe
custody any object found on the person arrested and which may be used to cause
bodily harm to himself or others.
[Sub-s. (2) added by s. 1 of Act 33 of 1986.]

24 Search of premises
Any person who is lawfully in charge or occupation of any premises and who
reasonably suspects that stolen stock or produce, as defined in any law relating to the
theft of stock or produce, is on or in the premises concerned, or that any article has
been placed thereon or therein or is in the custody or possession of any person upon
or in such premises in contravention of any law relating to intoxicating liquor,
dependence-producing drugs, arms and ammunition or explosives, may at any time, if
a police official is not readily available, enter such premises for the purpose of
searching such premises and any person thereon or therein, and if any such stock,
produce or article is found, he shall take possession thereof and forthwith deliver it to
a police official.
[S. 24 substituted by s. 12 of Act 59 of 1983.]

25 Power of police to enter premises in connection with State security or any

offence
(1) If it appears to a magistrate or justice from information on oath that there are
reasonable grounds for believing-
(a) that the internal security of the Republic or the maintenance of law and
order is likely to be endangered by or in consequence of any meeting which
is being held or is to be held in or upon any premises within his area of
jurisdiction; or
(b) that an offence has been or is being or is likely to be committed or that
preparations or arrangements for the commission of any offence are being
or are likely to be made in or upon any premises within his area of
jurisdiction,
he may issue a warrant authorizing a police official to enter the premises in question at
any reasonable time for the purpose-
(i) of carrying out such investigations and of taking such steps as such police
official may consider necessary for the preservation of the internal security
of the Republic or for the maintenance of law and order or for the
prevention of any offence;
(ii) of searching the premises or any person in or upon the premises for any
article referred to in section 20 which such police official on reasonable
grounds suspects to be in or upon or at the premises or upon such person;
and

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(iii) of seizing any such article.

(2) A warrant under subsection (1) may be issued on any day and shall be of force
until it is executed or is cancelled by the person who issued it or, if such person is not
available, by a person with like authority.
(3) A police official may without warrant act under subparagraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) of
subsection (1) if he on reasonable grounds believes-
(a) that a warrant will be issued to him under paragraph (a) or (b) of
subsection (1) if he applies for such warrant; and
(b) that the delay in obtaining such warrant would defeat the object thereof.

26 Entering of premises for purposes of obtaining evidence

Where a police official in the investigation of an offence or alleged offence
reasonably suspects that a person who may furnish information with reference to any
such offence is on any premises, such police official may without warrant enter such
premises for the purpose of interrogating such person and obtaining a statement from
him: Provided that such police official shall not enter any private dwelling without the
consent of the occupier thereof.

27 Resistance against entry or search

(1) A police official who may lawfully search any person or any premises or who
may enter any premises under section 26, may use such force as may be reasonably
necessary to overcome any resistance against such search or against entry of the
premises, including the breaking of any door or window of such premises: Provided
that such police official shall first audibly demand admission to the premises and notify
the purpose for which he seeks to enter such premises.
(2) The proviso to subsection (1) shall not apply where the police official concerned
is on reasonable grounds of the opinion that any article which is the subject of the
search may be destroyed or disposed of if the provisions of the said proviso are first
complied with.

28 Wrongful search an offence, and award of damages

(1) A police official-
(a) who acts contrary to the authority of a search warrant issued under section
21 or a warrant issued under section 25 (1); or
(b) who, without being authorized thereto under this Chapter-
(i) searches any person or container or premises or seizes or detains
any article; or
(ii) performs any act contemplated in subparagraph (i), (ii) or (iii) of
section 25 (1),
shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding R600 or to
imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months, and shall in addition be subject to
an award under subsection (2).
[Sub-s. (1) amended by s. 2 of Act 33 of 1986.]

(2) Where any person falsely gives information on oath under section 21 (1) or 25
(1) and a search warrant or, as the case may be, a warrant is issued and executed on
such information, and such person is in consequence of such false information
convicted of perjury, the court convicting such person may, upon the application of any
person who has suffered damage in consequence of the unlawful entry, search or
seizure, as the case may be, or upon the application of the prosecutor acting on the
instructions of that person, award compensation in respect of such damage,
whereupon the provisions of section 300 shall mutatis mutandis apply with reference
to such award.

29 Search to be conducted in decent and orderly manner

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A search of any person or premises shall be conducted with strict regard to decency
and order, and a woman shall be searched by a woman only, and if no female police
official is available, the search shall be made by any woman designated for the
purpose by a police official.

30 Disposal by police official of article after seizure

A police official who seizes any article referred to in section 20 or to whom any such
article is under the provisions of this Chapter delivered-
(a) may, if the article is perishable, with due regard to the interests of the
persons concerned, dispose of the article in such manner as the
circumstances may require; or
(b) may, if the article is stolen property or property suspected to be stolen,
with the consent of the person from whom it was seized, deliver the article
to the person from whom, in the opinion of such police official, such article
was stolen, and shall warn such person to hold such article available for
production at any resultant criminal proceedings, if required to do so; or
(c) shall, if the article is not disposed of or delivered under the provisions of
paragraph (a) or (b), give it a distinctive identification mark and retain it in
police custody or make such other arrangements with regard to the custody
thereof as the circumstances may require.

31 Disposal of article where no criminal proceedings are instituted or where

it is not required for criminal proceedings
(1) (a) If no criminal proceedings are instituted in connection with any article
referred to in section 30 (c) or if it appears that such article is not required at the trial
for purposes of evidence or for purposes of an order of court, the article shall be
returned to the person from whom it was seized, if such person may lawfully possess
such article, or, if such person may not lawfully possess such article, to the person who
may lawfully possess it.
(b) If no person may lawfully possess such article or if the police official charged
with the investigation reasonably does not know of any person who may lawfully
possess such article, the article shall be forfeited to the State.
[Para. (b) substituted by s. 2 of Act 5 of 1991.]

(2) The person who may lawfully possess the article in question shall be notified by
registered post at his last-known address that he may take possession of the article
and if such person fails to take delivery of the article within thirty days from the date
of such notification, the article shall be forfeited to the State.

32 Disposal of article where criminal proceedings are instituted and

admission of guilt fine is paid
(1) If criminal proceedings are instituted in connection with any article referred to in
section 30 (c) and the accused admits his guilt in accordance with the provisions of
section 57, the article shall be returned to the person from whom it was seized, if such
person may lawfully possess such article, or, if such person may not lawfully possess
such article, to the person who may lawfully possess such article, or, if such person
may not lawfully possess such article, to the person who may lawfully possess it,
whereupon the provisions of section 31 (2) shall apply with reference to any such
person.
(2) If no person may lawfully possess such article or if the police official charged
with the investigation reasonably does not know of any person who may lawfully
possess such article, the article shall be forfeited to the State.
[Sub-s. (2) substituted by s. 3 of Act 5 of 1991.]

33 Article to be transferred to court for purposes of trial

(1) If criminal proceedings are instituted in connection with any article referred to in

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section 30 (c) and such article is required at the trial for the purposes of evidence or
for the purposes of an order of court, the police official charged with the investigation
shall, subject to the provisions of subsection (2) of this section, deliver such article to
the clerk of the court where such criminal proceedings are instituted.
[Sub-s. (1) substituted by s. 4 of Act 5 of 1991.]

(2) If it is by reason of the nature, bulk or value of the article in question

impracticable or undesirable that the article should be delivered to the clerk of the
court in terms of subsection (1), the clerk of the court may require the police official in
charge of the investigation to retain the article in police custody or in such other
custody as may be determined in terms of section 30 (c).
[Sub-s. (2) substituted by s. 4 of Act 5 of 1991.]

(3) (a) The clerk of the court shall place any article received under subsection (1) in
safe custody, which may include the deposit of money in an official banking account if
such money is not required at the trial for the purposes of evidence.
(b) Where the trial in question is to be conducted in a court other than a court of
which such clerk is the clerk of the court, such clerk of the court shall-
(i) transfer any article received under subsection (1), other than money
deposited in a banking account under paragraph (a) of this subsection, to
the clerk of the court or, as the case may be, the registrar of the court in
which the trial is to be conducted, and such clerk or registrar of the court
shall place such article in safe custody;
(ii) in the case of any article retained in police custody or in some other
custody in accordance with the provisions of subsection (2) or in the case of
any money deposited in a banking account under paragraph (a) of this
subsection, advise the clerk or registrar of such other court of the fact of
such custody or such deposit, as the case may be.

34 Disposal of article after commencement of criminal proceedings

(1) The judge or judicial officer presiding at criminal proceedings shall at the
conclusion of such proceedings, but subject to the provisions of this Act or any other
law under which any matter shall or may be forfeited, make an order that any article
referred to in section 33-
(a) be returned to the person from whom it was seized, if such person may
lawfully possess such article; or
(b) if such person is not entitled to the article or cannot lawfully possess the
article, be returned to any other person entitled thereto, if such person may
lawfully possess the article; or
(c) if no person is entitled to the article or if no person may lawfully possess the
article or, if the person who is entitled thereto cannot be traced or is
unknown, be forfeited to the State.
(2) The court may, for the purpose of any order under subsection (1), hear such
additional evidence, whether by affidavit or orally, as it may deem fit.
(3) If the judge or judicial officer concerned does not, at the conclusion of the
relevant proceedings, make an order under subsection (1), such judge or judicial
officer or, if he is not available, any other judge or judicial officer of the court in
question, may at any time after the conclusion of the proceedings make any such
order, and for that purpose hear such additional evidence, whether by affidavit or
orally, as he may deem fit.
(4) Any order made under subsection (1) or (3) may be suspended pending any
appeal or review.
(5) Where the court makes an order under paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (1),
the provisions of section 31 (2) shall mutatis mutandis apply with reference to the
person in favour of whom such order is made.
(6) If the circumstances so require or if the criminal proceedings in question cannot

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for any reason be disposed of, the judge or judicial officer concerned may make any
order referred to in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of subsection (1) at any stage of the
proceedings.

35 Forfeiture of article to State

(1) A court which convicts an accused of any offence may, without notice to any
person, declare-
(a) any weapon, instrument or other article by means whereof the offence in
question was committed or which was used in the commission of such
offence; or
(b) if the conviction is in respect of an offence referred to in Part 1 of Schedule
2, any vehicle, container or other article which was used for the purpose of
or in connection with the commission of the offence in question or for the
conveyance or removal of the stolen property,
and which was seized under the provisions of this Act, forfeited to the State: Provided
that such forfeiture shall not affect any right referred to in subparagraph (i) or (ii) of
subsection (4) (a) if it is proved that the person who claims such right did not know
that such weapon, instrument, vehicle, container or other article was being used or
would be used for the purpose of or in connection with the commission of the offence
in question or, as the case may be, for the conveyance or removal of the stolen
property in question, or that he could not prevent such use, and that he may lawfully
possess such weapon, instrument, vehicle, container or other article, as the case may
be.
(2) A court which convicts an accused or which finds an accused not guilty of any
offence, shall declare forfeited to the State any article seized under the provisions of
this Act which is forged or counterfeit or which cannot lawfully be possessed by any
person.
(3) Any weapon, instrument, vehicle, container or other article declared forfeited
under the provisions of subsection (1), shall be kept for a period of thirty days with
effect from the date of declaration of forfeiture or, if an application is within that period
received from any person for the determination of any right referred to in
subparagraph (i) or (ii) of subsection (4) (a), until a final decision in respect of any
such application has been given.
(4) (a) The court in question or, if the judge or judicial officer concerned is not
available, any judge or judicial officer of the court in question, may at any time within
a period of three years with effect from the date of declaration of forfeiture, upon the
application of any person, other than the accused, who claims that any right referred
to in subparagraph (i) or (ii) of this paragraph is vested in him, inquire into and
determine any such right, and if the court finds that the weapon, instrument, vehicle,
container or other article in question-
(i) is the property of any such person, the court shall set aside the declaration
of forfeiture and direct that the weapon, instrument, vehicle, container or
other article, as the case may be, be returned to such person, or, if the
State has disposed of the weapon, instrument, vehicle, container or other
article in question, direct that such person be compensated by the State to
the extent to which the State has been enriched by such disposal;
(ii) was sold to the accused in pursuance of a contract under which he becomes
the owner of such weapon, instrument, vehicle, container or other article,
as the case may be, upon the payment of a stipulated price, whether by
instalments or otherwise, and under which the seller becomes entitled to
the return of such weapon, instrument, vehicle, container or other article
upon default of payment of the stipulated price or any part thereof-
(aa) the court shall direct that the weapon, instrument, vehicle,
container or other article in question be sold by public auction and
that the said seller be paid out of the proceeds of the sale an

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amount equal to the value of his rights under the contract to the weapon,
instrument, vehicle, container or other article, but not exceeding
the proceeds of the sale; or
(bb) if the State has disposed of the weapon, instrument, vehicle,
container or other article in question, the court shall direct that the
said seller be likewise compensated.
(b) If a determination by the court under paragraph (a) is adverse to the
applicant, he may appeal therefrom as if it were a conviction by the court making the
determination, and such appeal may be heard either separately or jointly with an
appeal against the conviction as a result whereof the declaration of forfeiture was
made, or against a sentence imposed as a result of such conviction.
(c) When determining any rights under this subsection, the record of the criminal
proceedings in which the declaration of forfeiture was made, shall form part of the
relevant proceedings, and the court making the determination may hear such
additional evidence, whether by affidavit or orally, as it may deem fit.

36 Disposal of article concerned in an offence committed outside Republic

(1) Where an article is seized in connection with which-
(a) an offence was committed or is on reasonable grounds suspected to have
been committed in a country outside the Republic;
(b) there are reasonable grounds for believing that it will afford evidence as to
the commission in a country outside the Republic of any offence or that it
was used for the purpose of or in connection with such commission of any
offence,
the magistrate within whose area of jurisdiction the article was seized may, on
application and if satisfied that such offence is punishable in such country by death or
by imprisonment for a period of twelve months or more or by a fine of five hundred
rand or more, order such article to be delivered to a member of a police force
established in such country who may thereupon remove it from the Republic.
(2) Whenever the article so removed from the Republic is returned to the
magistrate, or whenever the magistrate refuses to order that the article be delivered
as aforesaid, the article shall be returned to the person from whose possession it was
taken, unless the magistrate is authorized or required by law to dispose of it otherwise.

CHAPTER 3
ASCERTAINMENT OF BODILY FEATURES OF PERSONS (ss 36A-37)
[Heading substituted by s. 1 of Act 6 of 2010.]

36A Interpretation of Chapter 3

(1) For the purposes of this Chapter, unless the context indicates otherwise-
(a) 'appropriate person' means any adult member of a child's family, or a
care-giver of the child, which includes any person other than a parent or
guardian who factually cares for a child, including-
(i) a foster parent;
(ii) a person who cares for a child with the implied or express consent
of a parent or guardian of the child;
(iii) a person who cares for a child whilst the child is in temporary safe
care;
(iv) the person at the head of a child and youth care centre where a
child has been placed;
(v) the person at the head of a shelter;
(vi) a child and youth care worker, who cares for a child who is without
appropriate family care in the community; and
(vii) a child at the head of a child-headed household, if such a child is

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16 years or older;
(aA) 'authorised officer' means the police officer commanding the Division
responsible for forensic services within the South African Police Service, or
his or her delegate;
[Definition of 'authorised officer' inserted by s. 1 (a) of Act 37 of 2013.]
(b) 'authorised person' means-
(i) with reference to photographic images, fingerprints or body-prints,
any police official or a member of the Independent Police
Investigative Directorate, referred to in the Independent Police
Investigative Directorate Act, in the performance of his or her
official duties; and
(ii) with reference to buccal samples, any police official or member of
the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, referred to in the
Independent Police Investigative Directorate Act, who is not the
crime scene examiner of the particular case, but has successfully
undergone the training prescribed by the Minister of Health under
the National Health Act, in respect of the taking of a buccal sample;
[Definition of 'authorised person' substituted by s. 1 (b) of Act 37 of 2013.]
(c) 'body-prints' means prints other than fingerprints, taken from a person
and which are related to a crime scene, but excludes prints of the genitalia,
buttocks or breasts of a person;
(cA) 'bodily sample' means intimate or buccal samples taken from a person;
[Definition of 'bodily sample' inserted by s. 1 (c) of Act 37 of 2013.]
(cB) 'buccal sample' means a sample of cellular material taken from the
inside of a person's mouth;
[Definition of 'buccal sample' inserted by s. 1 (c) of Act 37 of 2013.]
(d) 'child' means a person under the age of 18 years;
(e) 'Child Justice Act' means the Child Justice Act, 2008 (Act 75 of 2008);
(f) 'comparative search' means the comparing by the authorised officer of-
(i) fingerprints, body-prints or photographic images, taken under any
power conferred by this Chapter, against any database referred to
in Chapter 5A of the South African Police Service Act; and
(ii) forensic DNA profiles derived from bodily samples, taken under any
power conferred by this Chapter, against forensic DNA profiles
contained in the different indices of the NFDD referred to in
Chapter 5B of the South African Police Service Act;
[Definition of 'comparative search' substituted by s. 1 (d) of Act 37 of 2013.]
(fA) 'crime scene sample' means physical evidence which is retrieved from
the crime scene or any other place where evidence of the crime may be
found, and may include physical evidence collected from the body of a
person, including a sample taken from a nail or from under the nail of a
person;
[Definition of 'crime scene sample' inserted by s. 1 (e) of Act 37 of 2013.]
(fB) 'DNA' means deoxyribonucleic acid which is a bio-chemical molecule found
in the cells and that makes each species unique;
[Definition of 'DNA' inserted by s. 1 (e) of Act 37 of 2013.]
(fC) 'forensic DNA analysis' means the analysis of sections of the DNA of a
bodily sample or crime scene sample to determine the forensic DNA profile:
Provided that this does not relate to any analysis pertaining to medical tests
or for health purposes or mental characteristic of a person or to determine
any physical information of the person other than the sex of that person;
[Definition of 'forensic DNA analysis' inserted by s. 1 (e) of Act 37 of 2013.]
(fD) 'forensic DNA profile' means the results obtained from forensic DNA
analysis of bodily samples taken from a person or samples taken from a
crime scene, providing a unique string of alpha numeric characters to
provide identity reference: Provided this does not contain any information

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on the health or medical condition or mental characteristic of a person or the

predisposition or physical information of the person other than the sex of
that person;
[Definition of 'forensic DNA profile' inserted by s. 1 (e) of Act 37 of 2013.]
(fE) 'Independent Police Investigative Directorate Act' means the
Independent Police Investigative Directorate Act, 2011 (Act 1 of 2011);
[Definition of 'Independent Police Investigative Directorate Act' inserted by s. 1 (e) of Act 37 of
2013.]
(fF) 'intimate sample' means a sample of blood or pubic hair or a sample
taken from the genitals or anal orifice area of the body of a person,
excluding a buccal sample;
[Definition of 'intimate sample' inserted by s. 1 (e) of Act 37 of 2013.]
(fG) 'National Health Act' means the National Health Act, 2003 (Act 61 of
2003);
[Definition of 'National Health Act' inserted by s. 1 (e) of Act 37 of 2013.]
(fH) 'NFDD' means the National Forensic DNA Database of South Africa,
established in terms of section 15G of the South African Police Service Act;
[and]
[Definition of 'NFDD' inserted by s. 1 (e) of Act 37 of 2013.]
(g) 'South African Police Service Act' means the South African Police
Service Act, 1995 (Act 68 of 1995).
(2) Any police official who, in terms of this Act or any other law takes the
fingerprints, a body-print or buccal sample or ascertains any bodily feature of a child
must-
(a) have due regard to the personal rights relating to privacy, dignity and
bodily integrity of the child;
(b) do so in a private area, not in view of the public;
(c) ensure the presence of a parent or guardian of the child, a social worker or
an appropriate person; and
(d) treat and address the child in a manner that takes into account his or her
gender and age.
[Sub-s. (2) amended by s. 1 (f) of Act 37 of 2013.]

(3) Buccal samples must be taken by an authorised person who is of the same
gender as the person from whom such sample is required with strict regard to decency
and order.
[Sub-s. (3) added by s. 1 (g) of Act 37 of 2013.]

(4) Notwithstanding any other law, an authorised person may take a buccal sample
or cause the taking of any other bodily sample with the consent of the person whose
sample is required or if authorised under-
(a) section 36D; or
(b) section 36E.
[Sub-s. (4) added by s. 1 (g) of Act 37 of 2013.]

(5) Any authorised person who, in terms of this Chapter or in terms of any other
law takes a buccal sample from any person, must do so-
(a) in accordance with the requirements of any regulation made by the Minister
of Police; and
(b) in a designated area deemed suitable for such purposes by the
Departmental Heads: Police, Justice and Constitutional Development or
Correctional Services in their area of responsibility.
[Sub-s. (5) added by s. 1 (g) of Act 37 of 2013.]
[S. 36A inserted by s. 2 of Act 6 of 2010.]

36B Powers in respect of fingerprints of accused and convicted persons

(1) A police official must take the fingerprints or must cause such prints to be taken
of any-

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(a) person arrested upon any charge related to an offence referred to in

Schedule 1;
(b) person released on bail if such person's fingerprints were not taken upon
arrest;
(c) person upon whom a summons has been served in respect of any offence
referred to in Schedule 1;
(d) person convicted by a court and sentenced to a term of imprisonment
without the option of a fine, whether suspended or not, if the fingerprints
were not taken upon arrest;
(e) person convicted by a court in respect of any offence, which the Minister
has by notice in the Gazette declared to be an offence for the purposes of
this subsection.
(2) A police official may take or cause-
(a) fingerprints to be taken of any person arrested upon any charge; or
(b) fingerprints to be taken of a person deemed under section 57 (6) to have
been convicted in respect of any offence, which the Minister has by notice
in the Gazette declared to be an offence for the purposes of this subsection.
(3) The fingerprints taken in terms of this section must be stored on the fingerprint
database maintained by the National Commissioner, as provided for in Chapter 5A of
the South African Police Service Act.
(4) A police official may again take the fingerprints of any person referred to in
subsection (1), if-
(a) the fingerprints taken on the previous occasion do not constitute a complete
set of his or her fingerprints;
(b) some or all of the fingerprints taken on the previous occasion are not of
sufficient quality to allow satisfactory analysis, comparison or matching; or
(c) the fingerprints taken were lost, misfiled or not stored on the database.
(5) The fingerprints taken under any power conferred by this section, may be the
subject of a comparative search.
(6) (a) Subject to paragraph (c), any fingerprints, taken under any power conferred
by this section-
(i) must upon the conviction of an adult person be retained on a database
referred to in Chapter 5A of the South African Police Service Act;
(ii) must, upon conviction of a child be retained on a database referred to in
Chapter 5A of the South African Police Service Act, subject to the provisions
relating to the expungement of a conviction and sentence of a child, as
provided for in section 87 of the Child Justice Act; and
(iii) in a case where a decision was made not to prosecute a person, if the
person is found not guilty at his or her trial, or if his or her conviction is set
aside by a superior court or if he or she is discharged at a preparatory
examination or if no criminal proceedings with reference to such
fingerprints or body-prints were instituted against the person concerned in
any court or if the prosecution declines to prosecute, must be destroyed
within 30 days after the officer commanding the Division responsible for
criminal records referred to in Chapter 5A of the South African Police
Service Act has been notified.
(b) Fingerprints retained in terms of this section, may only be used for purposes
related to the detection of crime, the investigation of an offence, the identification of
missing persons, the identification of unidentified human remains or the conducting of
a prosecution.
(c) Subparagraphs (a) (i) and (ii) do not prohibit the use of any fingerprints
taken under any powers conferred by this section, for the purposes of establishing if a
person has been convicted of an offence.

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(d) Any person who, with regard to any fingerprints, body-prints or photographic
images referred to in this Chapter-
(i) uses or allows the use of those fingerprints, body-prints or photographic
images for any purpose that is not related to the detection of crime, the
investigation of an offence, the identification of missing persons, the
identification of unidentified human remains or the conducting of a
prosecution; or
(ii) tampers with or manipulates the process or the fingerprints, bodyprints or
images in question; or
(iii) falsely claims such fingerprints, body-prints or images to have been taken
from a specific person whilst knowing them to have been taken from
another person or source,
is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to imprisonment for a period not
exceeding 15 years.
(7) The National Commissioner must destroy the fingerprints of a child upon receipt
of a Certificate of Expungement in terms of section 87 (4) of the Child Justice Act.
(8) Subsection (1) (d) applies to any person convicted of any crime, irrespective of
the sentence, including-
(a) any person serving such a sentence at the time of the commencement of
this section; and
(b) where applicable, any person released on parole in respect of such a
sentence, irrespective of the fact that such a person was convicted of the
offence in question, prior to the commencement of this section.
[S. 36B inserted by s. 2 of Act 6 of 2010.]

36C Fingerprints and body-prints for investigation purposes

(1) Any police official may without warrant take fingerprints or body-prints of a
person or a group of persons, if there are reasonable grounds to-
(a) suspect that the person or that one or more of the persons in that group
has committed an offence referred to in Schedule 1; and
(b) believe that the prints or the results of an examination thereof, will be of
value in the investigation by excluding or including one or more of those
persons as possible perpetrators of the offence.
(2) Prints taken in terms of this section may-
(a) be examined for the purposes of the investigation of the relevant offence or
caused to be so examined; and
(b) be subjected to a comparative search.
(3) (a) Subject to paragraph (c), any fingerprints or body-prints, taken under any
power conferred by this section-
(i) must upon the conviction of an adult person be retained on a database
referred to in Chapter 5A of the South African Police Service Act;
(ii) must, upon conviction of a child be retained on a database referred to in
Chapter 5A of the South African Police Service Act, subject to the provisions
relating to the expungement of a conviction and sentence of a child, as
provided for in section 87 of the Child Justice Act; and
(iii) in a case where a decision was made not to prosecute a person, if the
person is found not guilty at his or her trial, or if his or her conviction is set
aside by a superior court or if he or she is discharged at a preparatory
examination or if no criminal proceeding with reference to such fingerprints
or body-prints were instituted against the person concerned in any court or
if the prosecution declines to prosecute, must be destroyed within 30 days
after the officer commanding the Division responsible for criminal records
referred to in Chapter 5A of the South African Police Service Act has been

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notified of such event as referred to in this paragraph.

(b) Fingerprints or body-prints which may be retained in terms of this section,
may only be used for purposes related to the detection of crime, the investigation of
an offence, the identification of missing persons, the identification of unidentified
human remains or the conducting of a prosecution.
(c) Subparagraphs (a) (i) and (ii), does not prohibit the use of any fingerprints or
body-prints taken under any powers conferred by this section, for the purposes of
establishing if a person has been convicted of an offence.
(d) The fingerprints or body-prints referred to in paragraph (a) must be stored on
the database maintained by the National Commissioner, as provided for in Chapter 5A
of the South African Police Service Act.
(e) The National Commissioner must destroy the fingerprints of a child upon
receipt of a Certificate of Expungement in terms of section 87 (4) of the Child Justice
Act.
[S. 36C inserted by s. 2 of Act 6 of 2010.]

36D Powers in respect of buccal samples, bodily samples and crime scene
samples
(1) Subject to section 36A (5), an authorised person must-
(a) take a buccal sample; or
(b) cause the taking of any other bodily sample by a registered medical
practitioner or registered nurse defined in the National Health Act,
of any person-
(i) after arrest but before appearance in court to be formally charged for any
offence referred to in Schedule 8;
(ii) released on bail in respect of any offence referred to in Schedule 8, if a
buccal sample or a bodily sample of that person was not taken upon his or
her arrest;
(iii) upon whom a summons has been served in respect of any offence referred
to in Schedule 8;
(iv) whose name appears on the National Register for Sex Offenders; or
(v) charged or convicted by a court in respect of any offence, which the
Minister has by notice in the Gazette, and after notification of Parliament,
declared to be an offence for the purposes of this subsection.
[Date of commencement of sub-s. (1): to be proclaimed.]

(2) Subject to section 36A (5), an authorised person may-

(a) take a buccal sample; or
(b) cause the taking of any other bodily sample by a registered medical
practitioner or registered nurse,
of any person-
(i) after arrest but before appearance in court to be formally charged in
respect of any offence;
(ii) released on bail in respect of any offence, if a buccal sample or bodily
sample was not taken upon his or her arrest;
(iii) upon whom a summons has been served in respect of any offence;
(iv) whose name appears on the National Register for Sex Offenders; or
(v) charged or convicted by a court in respect of any offence, which the
Minister has by notice in the Gazette, and after notification of Parliament,
declared to be an offence for the purposes of this subsection.
(3) The authorised person must supervise the taking of a buccal sample from a
person referred to in subsection (1) or (2) who is required to submit such sample and
who requests to take it himself or herself.

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(4) The Station Commander or other relevant commander must within 30 days
furnish every bodily sample taken under subsection (1) or (2) to the authorised officer,
who must carry out a forensic DNA analysis on every such sample in terms of Chapter
5B of the South African Police Service Act.
(5) Subject to section 36A (5), nothing in this Chapter prohibits-
(a) an authorised person from re-taking or supervising the re-taking of a buccal
sample from any person referred to in subsection (1), (2) or (3), if the
buccal sample taken from him or her was either not suitable or insufficient
for forensic DNA analysis; or
(b) a registered medical practitioner or registered nurse from re-taking a bodily
sample taken from any person referred to in subsection (1) or (2), if the
bodily sample taken from him or her was either not suitable or insufficient
for forensic DNA analysis.
(6) The forensic DNA profile derived from bodily samples, taken under any power
conferred by this section, may be used to conduct a comparative search.
(7) (a) Any forensic DNA profile derived from such sample, taken under any power
conferred by this section must only be used for the purposes referred to in section 15F
of the South African Police Service Act.
(b) The forensic DNA profile derived from bodily samples, taken under any power
conferred by this section must be retained on, or removed from, the NFDD in
accordance with the provisions of Chapter 5B of the South African Police Service Act.
(c) Any person who uses or allows the use of a bodily sample, crime scene
sample or any forensic DNA profile derived from such sample for any purpose other
than as contemplated in paragraph (a), is guilty of an offence and liable in the case of
a natural person, to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 15 years, and in the case
of a juristic person, to a fine.
(d) Intimate samples may only be taken-
(i) by a registered medical practitioner or registered nurse; and
(ii) in accordance with strict regard to decency and order.
[S. 36D inserted by s. 2 of Act 37 of 2013.]

36E Samples for investigation purposes

(1) Subject to subsection (2) and section 36A (5), an authorised person may take a
buccal sample of a person or a group of persons, or supervise the taking of a buccal
sample from a person who is required to submit such sample and who requests to do
so himself or herself if there are reasonable grounds to-
(a) suspect that the person or that one or more of the persons in that group
has committed an offence referred to in Schedule 8; and
(b) believe that the buccal sample or the results of the forensic DNA analysis
thereof, will be of value in the investigation by excluding or including one or
more of those persons as possible perpetrators of the offence.
(2) If a person does not consent to the taking of a buccal sample under this section,
a warrant may be issued by a judge or a magistrate if it appears from written
information given by the authorised person on oath or affirmation that there are
reasonable grounds for believing that-
(a) any person from whom a buccal sample is required has committed an
offence listed in Schedule 8; and
(b) the sample or the results of an examination thereof, will be of value in the
investigation by excluding or including that person as a possible perpetrator
of the offence.
(3) The provisions of section 36D (4), (5) (a), (6) and (7) apply with the necessary
changes, to a sample or forensic DNA profile derived therefrom as contemplated in
subsection (1).
[S. 36E inserted by s. 2 of Act 37 of 2013.]

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37 Powers in respect of body-prints and bodily appearance of accused and

convicted persons
(1) Any police official may-
(a) take the body-prints or may cause any such prints to be taken-
(i) of any person arrested upon any charge;
(ii) of any such person released on bail;
(iii)of any person arrested in respect of any matter referred to in
paragraph (n), (o) or (p) of section 40 (1);
(iv) of any person upon whom a summons has been served in respect
of any offence referred to in Schedule 1 or any offence with
reference to which the suspension, cancellation or endorsement of
any licence or permit or the disqualification in respect of any
licence or permit is permissible or prescribed;
(v) of any person convicted by a court; or
(vi) of any person deemed under section 57 (6) to have been convicted
in respect of any offence which the Minister has by notice in the
Gazette declared to be an offence for the purposes of this
subparagraph;
(b) make a person referred to in paragraph (a) (i) or (ii) or paragraph (a) or
(b) of section 36B (1) available or cause such person to be made available
for identification in such condition, position or apparel as the police official
may determine;
(c) take such steps as he or she may deem necessary in order to ascertain
whether the body of any person referred to in paragraph (a) (i) or (ii) or
paragraph (a) or (b) of section 36B (1) has any mark, characteristic or
distinguishing feature or shows any condition or appearance: Provided that
a police official may not-
(i) take a blood sample of any person; or
(ii) examine the body of a person who is of a different gender to the
police official;
(d) take a photographic image or may cause a photographic image to be taken
of a person referred to in paragraph (a) (i) or (ii) or paragraph (a) or (b) of
section 36B (1).
(2) (a) Any medical officer of any prison or, if requested thereto by any police
official, any registered medical practitioner or registered nurse may take such steps,
including the taking of a blood sample, as may be deemed necessary in order to
ascertain whether the body of any person referred to in paragraph (a) (i) or (ii) of
subsection (1) or paragraph (a) or (b) of section 36B (1) has any mark, characteristic
or distinguishing feature or shows any condition or appearance.
(b) If any registered medical practitioner attached to any hospital is on
reasonable grounds of the opinion that the contents of the blood of any person
admitted to such hospital for medical attention or treatment may be relevant at any
later criminal proceedings, such medical practitioner may take a blood sample of such
person or cause such sample to be taken.
(3) Any court before which criminal proceedings are pending may-
(a) in any case in which a police official is not empowered under subsection (1)
or section 36B (1) to take fingerprints or body-prints or to take steps in
order to ascertain whether the body of any person has any mark,
characteristic or distinguishing feature or shows any condition or
appearance, order that such prints be taken of any accused at such
proceedings or that the steps, including the taking of a blood sample, be
taken which such court may deem necessary in order to ascertain whether
the body of any accused at such proceedings has any mark, characteristic
or distinguishing feature or shows any condition or appearance;

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(b) order that the steps, including the taking of a blood sample, be taken which
such court may deem necessary in order to ascertain the state of health of
any accused at such proceedings.
(4) Any court which has convicted any person of any offence or which has concluded
a preparatory examination against any person on any charge, or any magistrate, may
order that the fingerprints, body-prints or a photographic image of the person
concerned be taken.
(5) Any fingerprints, body-prints or photographic images taken under any power
conferred by this section, may be the subject of a comparative search.
(6) (a) Subject to subsection (7), the body-prints or photographic images, taken
under any power conferred by this section, and the record of steps taken under this
section-
(i) must upon the conviction of an adult person be retained on a database
provided for in section 5A of the South African Police Service Act;
(ii) must, upon conviction of a child be retained on a database referred to in
Chapter 5A of the South African Police Service Act, subject to the provisions
relating to the expungement of a conviction and sentence of a child, as
provided for in section 87 of the Child Justice Act; and
(iii) in a case where a decision was made not to prosecute a person, if the
person is found not guilty at his or her trial, or if his or her conviction is set
aside by a superior court or if he or she is discharged at a preparatory
examination or if no criminal proceeding with reference to such body-prints
or photographic images was instituted against the person concerned in any
court or if the prosecution declines to prosecute, must be destroyed within
30 days after the officer commanding the Division responsible for criminal
records referred to in Chapter 5A of the South African Police Service Act has
been notified.
(b) Body-prints or photographic images which may be retained in terms of this
section, may only be used for purposes related to the detection of crime, the
investigation of an offence, the identification of a missing person, the identification of
unidentified human remains or the conducting of a prosecution.
(c) The body-prints or photographic images referred to in paragraph (a) (i) and
(ii), must be stored on the database established by the National Commissioner, as
provided for in Chapter 5A of the South African Police Service Act.
(7) Subsection (6) does not prohibit the use of any body-prints or photographic
image taken under any powers conferred by this section, for the purposes of
establishing if a person has been convicted of an offence.
[S. 37 amended by s. 1 (a), (b) and (c) of Act 64 of 1982 and substituted by s. 3 of Act 6 of
2010.]

CHAPTER 4
METHODS OF SECURING ATTENDANCE OF ACCUSED IN COURT (s 38)

38 Methods of securing attendance of accused in court

(1) Subject to section 4 (2) of the Child Justice Act, 2008 (Act 75 of 2008), the
methods of securing the attendance of an accused who is eighteen years or older in
court for the purposes of his or her trial shall be arrest, summons, written notice and
indictment in accordance with the relevant provisions of this Act.
[Sub-s. (1) substituted by s. 4 of Act 42 of 2013.]

(2) The methods of securing the attendance of an accused who is under the age of
eighteen years at a preliminary inquiry or child justice court are those contemplated in
section 17 of the Child Justice Act, 2008.
[S. 38 substituted by s. 99 (1) of Act 75 of 2008.]

CHAPTER 5
ARREST (ss 39-53)

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39 Manner and effect of arrest

(1) An arrest shall be effected with or without a warrant and, unless the person to
be arrested submits to custody, by actually touching his body or, if the circumstances
so require, by forcibly confining his body.
(2) The person effecting an arrest shall, at the time of effecting the arrest or
immediately after effecting the arrest, inform the arrested person of the cause of the
arrest or, in the case of an arrest effected by virtue of a warrant, upon demand of the
person arrested hand him a copy of the warrant.
(3) The effect of an arrest shall be that the person arrested shall be in lawful
custody and that he shall be detained in custody until he is lawfully discharged or
released from custody.

40 Arrest by peace officer without warrant

(1) A peace officer may without warrant arrest any person-
(a) who commits or attempts to commit any offence in his presence;
(b) whom he reasonably suspects of having committed an offence referred to in
Schedule 1, other than the offence of escaping from lawful custody;
(c) who has escaped or who attempts to escape from lawful custody;
(d) who has in his possession any implement of housebreaking or carbreaking
as contemplated in section 82 of the General Law Third Amendment Act,
1993, and who is unable to account for such possession to the satisfaction
of the peace officer;
[Para. (d) substituted by s. 41 of Act 129 of 1993.]
(e) who is found in possession of anything which the peace officer reasonably
suspects to be stolen property or property dishonestly obtained, and whom
the peace officer reasonably suspects of having committed an offence with
respect to such thing;
(f) who is found at any place by night in circumstances which afford reasonable
grounds for believing that such person has committed or is about to commit
an offence;
(g) who is reasonably suspected of being or having been in unlawful possession
of stock or produce as defined in any law relating to the theft of stock or
produce;
(h) who is reasonably suspected of 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;
(i) who is found in any gambling house or at any gambling table in
contravention of any law relating to the prevention or suppression of
gambling or games of chance;
(j) who wilfully obstructs him in the execution of his duty;
(k) who has been concerned in or against whom a reasonable complaint has
been made or credible information has been received or a reasonable
suspicion exists that he has been concerned in any act committed outside
the Republic which, if committed in the Republic, would have been
punishable as an offence, and for which he is, under any law relating to
extradition or fugitive offenders, liable to be arrested or detained in custody
in the Republic;
(l) who is reasonably suspected of being a prohibited immigrant in the Republic
in contravention of any law regulating entry into or residence in the
Republic;
(m) who is reasonably suspected of being a deserter from the South African
National Defence Force;
[Para. (m) amended by s. 4 of Act 18 of 1996.]

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(n) who is reasonably suspected of having failed to observe any condition

imposed in postponing the passing of sentence or in suspending the
operation of any sentence under this Act;
(o) who is reasonably suspected of having failed to pay any fine or part thereof
on the date fixed by order of court under this Act;
(p) who fails to surrender himself in order that he may undergo periodical
imprisonment when and where he is required to do so under an order of
court or any law relating to prisons;
(q) who is reasonably suspected of having committed an act of domestic
violence as contemplated in section 1 3 of the Domestic Violence Act, 1998,
which constitutes an offence in respect of which violence is an element.
[Para. (q) added by s. 20 of Act 116 of 1998.]

(2) If a person may be arrested under any law without warrant and subject to
conditions or the existence of circumstances set out in that law, any peace officer may
without warrant arrest such person subject to such conditions or circumstances.
3 In the Afrikaans text of para. (q) the reference is to no particular section of Act 116 of 1998 but
to the Act as a whole

41 Name and address of certain persons and power of arrest by peace officer
without warrant
(1) A peace officer may call upon any person-
(a) whom he has power to arrest;
(b) who is reasonably suspected of having committed or of having attempted to
commit an offence;
(c) who, in the opinion of the peace officer, may be able to give evidence in
regard to the commission or suspected commission of any offence,
to furnish such peace officer with his full name and address, and if such person fails to
furnish his full name and address, the peace officer may forthwith and without warrant
arrest him, or, if such person furnishes to the peace officer a name or address which
the peace officer reasonably suspects to be false, the peace officer may arrest him
without warrant and detain him for a period not exceeding twelve hours until such
name or address has been verified.
(2) Any person who, when called upon under the provisions of subsection (1) to
furnish his name and address, fails to do so or furnishes a false or incorrect name and
address, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding
R300 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months.
[Sub-s. (2) substituted by s. 3 of Act 33 of 1986.]

42 Arrest by private person without warrant

(1) Any private person may without warrant arrest any person-
(a) who commits or attempts to commit in his presence or whom he reasonably
suspects of having committed an offence referred to in Schedule 1;
(b) whom he reasonably believes to have committed any offence and to be
escaping from and to be freshly pursued by a person whom such private
person reasonably believes to have authority to arrest that person for that
offence;
(c) whom he is by any law authorized to arrest without warrant in respect of
any offence specified in that law;
(d) whom he sees engaged in an affray.
(2) Any private person who may without warrant arrest any person under
subsection (1) (a) may forthwith pursue that person, and any other private person to

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whom the purpose of the pursuit has been made known, may join and assist
therein.
(3) The owner, lawful occupier or person in charge of property on or in respect of
which any person is found committing any offence, and any person authorized thereto
by such owner, occupier or person in charge, may without warrant arrest the person so
found.
[Sub-s. (3) substituted by s. 13 of Act 59 of 1983.]

43 Warrant of arrest may be issued by magistrate or justice

(1) Any magistrate or justice may issue a warrant for the arrest of any person upon
the written application of an attorney-general, a public prosecutor or a commissioned
officer of police-
(a) which sets out the offence alleged to have been committed;
(b) which alleges that such offence was committed within the area of
jurisdiction of such magistrate or, in the case of a justice, within the area of
jurisdiction of the magistrate within whose district or area application is
made to the justice for such warrant, or where such offence was not
committed within such area of jurisdiction, which alleges that the person in
respect of whom the application is made, is known or is on reasonable
grounds suspected to be within such area of jurisdiction; and
(c) which states that from information taken upon oath there is a reasonable
suspicion that the person in respect of whom the warrant is applied for has
committed the alleged offence.
(2) A warrant of arrest issued under this section shall direct that the person
described in the warrant shall be arrested by a peace officer in respect of the offence
set out in the warrant and that he be brought before a lower court in accordance with
the provisions of section 50.
(3) A warrant of arrest may be issued on any day and shall remain in force until it is
cancelled by the person who issued it or, if such person is not available, by any person
with like authority, or until it is executed.

44 Execution of warrants
A warrant of arrest issued under any provision of this Act may be executed by a
peace officer, and the peace officer executing such warrant shall do so in accordance
with the terms thereof.

45 Arrest on telegraphic authority

(1) A telegraphic or similar written or printed communication from any magistrate,
justice or peace officer stating that a warrant has been issued for the arrest of any
person, shall be sufficient authority to any peace officer for the arrest and detention of
that person.
(2) The provisions of section 50 shall apply with reference to an arrest effected in
accordance with subsection (1).

46 Non-liability for wrongful arrest

(1) Any person who is authorized to arrest another under a warrant of arrest or a
communication under section 45 and who in the reasonable belief that he is arresting
such person arrests another, shall be exempt from liability in respect of such wrongful
arrest.
(2) Any person who is called upon to assist in making an arrest as contemplated in
subsection (1) or who is required to detain a person so arrested, and who reasonable
believes that the said person is the person whose arrest has been authorized by the
warrant of arrest or the communication, shall likewise be exempt from liability in
respect of such assistance or detention.

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47 Private persons to assist in arrest when called upon

(1) Every male inhabitant of the Republic of an age not below sixteen and not
exceeding sixty years shall, when called upon by any police official to do so, assist
such police official-
(a) in arresting any person;
(b) in detaining any person so arrested.
(2) Any person who, without sufficient cause, fails to assist a police official as
provided in subsection (1), shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a
fine not exceeding R300 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months.
[Sub-s. (2) substituted by s. 4 of Act 33 of 1986.]

48 Breaking open premises for purpose of arrest

Any person who may lawfully arrest another in respect of any offence and who
knows or reasonably suspects such other person to be on any premises, may, if he first
audibly demands entry into such premises and notifies the purpose for which he seeks
entry and fails to gain entry, break open, enter and search such premises for the
purpose of effecting the arrest.

49 Use of force in effecting arrest

(1) For the purposes of this section-
(a) 'arrestor' means any person authorised under this Act to arrest or to assist
in arresting a suspect;
(b) 'suspect' means any person in respect of whom an arrestor has a
reasonable suspicion that such person is committing or has committed an
offence; and
(c) 'deadly force' means force that is likely to cause serious bodily harm or
death and includes, but is not limited to, shooting at a suspect with a
firearm.
(2) If any arrestor attempts to arrest a suspect and the suspect resists the attempt,
or flees, or resists the attempt and flees, when it is clear that an attempt to arrest him
or her is being made, and the suspect cannot be arrested without the use of force, the
arrestor may, in order to effect the arrest, use such force as may be reasonably
necessary and proportional in the circumstances to overcome the resistance or to
prevent the suspect from fleeing, but, in addition to the requirement that the force
must be reasonably necessary and proportional in the circumstances, the arrestor may
use deadly force only if-
(a) the suspect poses a threat of serious violence to the arrestor or any other
person; or
(b) the suspect is suspected on reasonable grounds of having committed a
crime involving the infliction or threatened infliction of serious bodily harm
and there are no other reasonable means of effecting the arrest, whether at
that time or later.
[S. 49 substituted by s. 7 of Act 122 of 1998 and by s. 1 of Act 9 of 2012.]

50 Procedure after arrest

(1) (a) Any person who is arrested with or without warrant for allegedly committing
an offence, or for any other reason, shall as soon as possible be brought to a police
station or, in the case of an arrest by warrant, to any other place which is expressly
mentioned in the warrant.
(b) A person who is in detention as contemplated in paragraph (a) shall, as soon
as reasonably possible, be informed of his or her right to institute bail proceedings.
(c) Subject to paragraph (d), if such an arrested person is not released by reason
that-

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(i) no charge is to be brought against him or her; or

(ii) bail is not granted to him or her in terms of section 59 or 59A,
he or she shall be brought before a lower court as soon as reasonably possible, but not
later than 48 hours after the arrest.
(d) If the period of 48 hours expires-
(i) outside ordinary court hours or on a day which is not an ordinary court day,
the accused shall be brought before a lower court not later than the end of
the first court day;
(ii) or will expire at, or if the time at which such period is deemed to expire
under subparagraph (i) or (iii) is or will be, a time when the arrested person
cannot, because of his or her physical illness or other physical condition, be
brought before a lower court, the court before which he or she would, but
for the illness or other condition, have been brought, may on the
application of the prosecutor, which, if not made before the expiration of
the period of 48 hours, may be made at any time before, or on, the next
succeeding court day, and in which the circumstances relating to the illness
or other condition are set out, supported by a certificate of a medical
practitioner, authorise that the arrested person be detained at a place
specified by the court and for such period as the court may deem necessary
so that he or she may recuperate and be brought before the court:
Provided that the court may, on an application as aforesaid, authorise that
the arrested person be further detained at a place specified by the court
and for such period as the court may deem necessary; or
[Sub-para. (ii) substituted by s. 3 (a) of Act 34 of 1998.]
(iii) at a time when the arrested person is outside the area of jurisdiction of the
lower court to which he or she is being brought for the purposes of further
detention and he or she is at such time in transit from a police station or
other place of detention to such court, the said period shall be deemed to
expire at the end of the court day next succeeding the day on which such
arrested person is brought within the area of jurisdiction of such court.
[Sub-s. (1) amended by s. 1 of Act 56 of 1979 and substituted by s. 1 (a) of Act 85 of 1997.]

(2) For purposes of this section-

(a) 'a court day' means a day on which the court in question normally sits as
a court and 'ordinary court day' has a corresponding meaning; and
(b) 'ordinary court hours' means the hours from 9:00 until 16:00 on a court
day.
[Sub-s. (2) substituted by s. 1 (a) of Act 85 of 1997.]

(3) Subject to the provisions of subsection (6), nothing in this section shall be
construed as modifying the provisions of this Act or any other law whereby a person
under detention may be released on bail or on warning or on a written notice to appear
in court.
[Sub-s. (3) substituted by s. 1 (a) of Act 75 of 1995 and by s. 8 (1) (a) of Act 62 of 2000.]

(4) and (5) ......

[Sub-ss. (4) and (5) added by s. 37 of Act 122 of 1991 and deleted by s. 99 (1) of Act 75 of
2008.]

(6) (a) At his or her first appearance in court a person contemplated in subsection
(1) (a) who-
(i) was arrested for allegedly committing an offence shall, subject to this
subsection and section 60-
(aa) be informed by the court of the reason for his or her further
detention; or
[Item (aa) substituted by s. 3 (b) of Act 34 of 1998.]
(bb) be charged and be entitled to apply to be released on bail,
and if the accused is not so charged or informed of the reason for his or her
further detention, he or she shall be released; or

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(ii) was not arrested in respect of an offence, shall be entitled to adjudication

upon the cause for his or her arrest.
(b) An arrested person contemplated in paragraph (a) (i) is not entitled to be
brought to court outside ordinary court hours.
(c) The bail application of a person who is charged with an offence referred to in
Schedule 6 must be considered by a magistrate's court: Provided that the Director of
Public Prosecutions concerned, or a prosecutor authorised thereto in writing by him or
her may, if he or she deems it expedient or necessary for the administration of justice
in a particular case, direct in writing that the application must be considered by a
regional court.
[Para. (c) substituted by s. 8 (1) (b) of Act 62 of 2000.]
(d) The lower court before which a person is brought in terms of this subsection,
may postpone any bail proceedings or bail application to any date or court, for a period
not exceeding seven days at a time, on the terms which the court may deem proper
and which are not inconsistent with any provision of this Act, if-
(i) the court is of the opinion that it has insufficient information or evidence at
its disposal to reach a decision on the bail application;
(ii) the prosecutor informs the court that the matter has been or is going to be
referred to an attorney-general for the issuing of a written confirmation
referred to in section 60 (11A);
(iii) ......
[Sub-para. (iii) deleted by s. 8 (1) (c) of Act 62 of 2000.]
(iv) it appears to the court that it is necessary to provide the State with a
reasonable opportunity to-
(aa) procure material evidence that may be lost if bail is granted; or
(bb) perform the functions referred to in section 37; or
(v) it appears to the court that it is necessary in the interests of justice to do
so.
[Sub-s. (6) added by s. 1 (b) of Act 75 of 1995 and substituted by s. 1 (b) of Act 85 of 1997.]

(7) ......
[Sub-s. (7) added by s. 1 (b) of Act 75 of 1995 and deleted by s. 1 (c) of Act 85 of 1997.]

51 Escaping and aiding escaping before incarceration, and penalties therefor

(1) Any person who escapes or attempts to escape from custody after he or she has
been lawfully arrested and before he or she has been lodged in any correctional
facility, police-cell or lock-up, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to
the penalties prescribed in section 117 of the Correctional Services Act, 1998 (Act 111
of 1998).
[Sub-s. (1) substituted by s. 4 of Act 66 of 2008.]

(2) Any person who rescues or attempts to rescue from custody any person after he
or she has been lawfully arrested and before he or she has been lodged in any
correctional facility, police-cell or lock-up, or who aids the person to escape or to
attempt to escape from custody, or who harbours or conceals or assists in harbouring
or concealing any person who escapes from custody after he or she has been lawfully
arrested and before he or she has been lodged in any correctional facility, police-cell or
lock-up, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to the penalties
prescribed in section 117 of the said Correctional Services Act, 1998.
[Sub-s. (2) substituted by s. 4 of Act 66 of 2008.]

(3) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any law contained, a lower court
shall have jurisdiction to try any offence under this section and to impose any penalty
prescribed in respect thereof.

52 Saving of other powers of arrest

No provision of this Chapter relating to arrest shall be construed as removing or
diminishing any authority expressly conferred by any other law to arrest, detain or put

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any restraint upon any person.

53 Saving of civil law rights and liability

Subject to the provisions of sections 46 and 331, no provision of this Chapter
relating to arrest shall be construed as removing or diminishing any civil right or
liability of any person in respect of a wrongful or malicious arrest.

CHAPTER 6
SUMMONS (ss 54-55)

54 Summons as method of securing attendance of accused in magistrate's

court
(1) Where the prosecution intends prosecuting an accused in respect of any offence
and the accused is not in custody in respect of that offence and no warrant has been or
is to be issued for the arrest of the accused for that offence, the prosecutor may
secure the attendance of the accused for a summary trial in a lower court having
jurisdiction by drawing up the relevant charge and handing such charge, together with
information relating to the name and, where known and where applicable, the
residential address and occupation or status of the accused, to the clerk of the court
who shall-
(a) issue a summons containing the charge and the information handed to him
by the prosecutor, and specifying the place, date and time for the
appearance of the accused in court on such charge; and
(b) deliver such summons, together with so many copies thereof as there are
accused to be summoned, to a person empowered to serve a summons in
criminal proceedings.
(2) (a) Except where otherwise expressly provided by any law, the summons shall
be served by a person referred to in subsection (1) (b) by delivering it to the person
named therein or, if he cannot be found, by delivering it at his residence or place of
employment or business to a person apparently over the age of sixteen years and
apparently residing or employed there.
(b) A return by the person who served the summons that the service thereof has
been effected in terms of paragraph (a), may, upon the failure of the person concerned
to attend the relevant proceedings, be handed in at such proceedings and shall be
prima facie proof of such service.
(3) A summons under this section shall be served on an accused so that he is in
possession thereof at least fourteen days (Sundays and public holidays excluded)
before the date appointed for the trial.

55 Failure of accused to appear on summons

(1) Subject to section 4 (2) of the Child Justice Act, 2008, an accused who is
eighteen years or older and who is summoned under section 54 to appear at criminal
proceedings and who fails to appear at the place and on the date and at the time
specified in the summons or who fails to remain in attendance at such proceedings,
shall be guilty of an offence and liable to the punishment prescribed under subsection
(2).
[Sub-s. (1) substituted by s. 99 (1) of Act 75 of 2008.]

(1A) The provisions of section 46 of the Child Justice Act, 2008, apply to an accused
who is under the age of eighteen years and who fails to appear at a preliminary inquiry
in terms of a summons issued under that Act.
[Sub-s. (1A) inserted by s. 99 (1) of Act 75 of 2008.]

(2) The court may, if satisfied from the return of service referred to in paragraph
(b) of section 54 (2) that the summons was served on the accused in terms of
paragraph (a) of that section and that the accused has failed to appear at the place
and on the date and at the time specified in the summons, or if satisfied that the

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accused has failed to remain in attendance at the proceedings in question, issue a

warrant for his arrest and, when he is brought before the court, in a summary manner
enquire into his failure so to appear or so to remain in attendance and unless the
accused satisfies the court that his failure was not due to any fault on his part, convict
him of the offence referred to in subsection (1) and sentence him to a fine not
exceeding R300 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months: Provided
that where a warrant is issued for the arrest of an accused who has failed to appear in
answer to the summons, the person executing the warrant-
(a) may, where it appears to him that the accused received the summons in
question and that the accused will appear in court in accordance with a
warning under section 72; or
(b) shall, where it appears to him that the accused did not receive the
summons in question or that the accused has paid an admission of guilt fine
in terms of section 57 or that there are other grounds on which it appears
that the failure of the accused to appear on the summons was not due to
any fault on the part of the accused, for which purpose he may require the
accused to furnish an affidavit or affirmation,
release the accused on warning under section 72 in respect of the offence of failing to
appear in answer to the summons, whereupon the provisions of that section shall
mutatis mutandis apply with reference to the said offence.
[Sub-s. (2) amended by s. 5 (a) of Act 33 of 1986.]

(2A) (a) If the court issues a warrant of arrest in terms of subsection (2) in respect
of a summons which is endorsed in accordance with section 57 (1) (a)-
(i) an endorsement to the same effect shall be made on the warrant in
question;
(ii) the court may make a further endorsement on the warrant to the effect
that the accused may admit his guilt in respect of the failure to appear in
answer to the summons or to remain in attendance at the criminal
proceedings, and that he may upon arrest pay to a clerk of the court or at a
police station a fine stipulated on the warrant in respect of such failure,
which fine shall not exceed the amount to be imposed in terms of
subsection (2), without appearing in court.
[NB: Para. (a) has been substituted by s. 5 of the Judicial Matters Amendment Act 66 of 2008,
a provision which will be put into operation by proclamation. See PENDLEX.]
(b) The fine paid in terms of paragraph (a) at a police station or to a clerk of a
magistrate's court other than the magistrate's court which issued the warrant of arrest,
shall, as soon as is expedient, together with the warrant of arrest in question, be
forwarded to the clerk of the court which issued that warrant, and such clerk of the
court shall thereafter, as soon as is expedient, enter the essential particulars of such
admission of guilt in the criminal record book for admission of guilt, whereupon the
accused concerned shall be deemed to have been convicted by the court in respect of
the offence in question.
[Sub-s. (2A) inserted by s. 5 (b) of Act 33 of 1986 and substituted by s. 3 of Act 4 of 1992.]

(3) (a) If, in any case in which a warrant of arrest is issued, it was permissible for
the accused in terms of section 57 to admit his guilt in respect of the summons on
which he failed to appear and to pay a fine in respect thereof without appearing in
court, and the accused is arrested under such warrant in the area of jurisdiction of a
magistrate's court other than the magistrate's court which issued the warrant of arrest,
such other magistrate's court may, notwithstanding any provision of this Act or any
other law to the contrary, and if satisfied that the accused has, since the date on which
he failed to appear on the summons in question, admitted his guilt in respect of that
summons and has paid a fine in respect thereof without appearing in court, in a
summary manner enquire into his failure to appear on such summons and, unless the
accused satisfies the court that his failure was not due to any fault on his part, convict
him of the offence referred to in subsection (1) and sentence him to a fine not
exceeding R300 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months.
[Para. (a) substituted by s. 14 of Act 59 of 1983 and by s. 5 (c) of Act 33 of 1986.]

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(b) In proceedings under paragraph (a) before such other magistrate's court, it
shall be presumed, upon production in such court of the relevant warrant of arrest,
that the accused failed to appear on the summons in question, unless the contrary is
proved.

CHAPTER 7
WRITTEN NOTICE TO APPEAR IN COURT (s 56)

56 Written notice as method of securing attendance of accused in

magistrate's court
(1) If an accused is alleged to have committed an offence and a peace officer on
reasonable grounds believes that a magistrate's court, on convicting such accused of
that offence, will not impose a fine exceeding the amount 4 determined by the Minister
from time to time by notice in the Gazette, such peace officer may, whether or not the
accused is in custody, hand to the accused a written notice which shall-
(a) specify the name, the residential address and the occupation or status of
the accused;
(b) call upon the accused to appear at a place and on a date and at a time
specified in the written notice to answer a charge of having committed the
offence in question;
(c) contain an endorsement in terms of section 57 that the accused may admit
his guilt in respect of the offence in question and that he may pay a
stipulated fine in respect thereof without appearing in court; and
(d) contain a certificate under the hand of the peace officer that he has handed
the original of such written notice to the accused and that he has explained
to the accused the import thereof.
[Sub-s. (1) amended by s. 2 of Act 109 of 1984 and by s. 5 of Act 5 of 1991.]
[NB: Sub-s. (1) has been substituted by s. 6 of the Judicial Matters Amendment Act 66 of
2008, a provision which will be put into operation by proclamation. See PENDLEX.]

(2) If the accused is in custody, the effect of a written notice handed to him under
subsection (1) shall be that he be released forthwith from custody.
[NB: Sub-s. (2) has been substituted by s. 6 of the Judicial Matters Amendment Act 66 of
2008, a provision which will be put into operation by proclamation. See PENDLEX.]

(3) The peace officer shall forthwith forward a duplicate original of the written notice
to the clerk of the court which has jurisdiction.
(4) The mere production to the court of the duplicate original referred to in
subsection (3) shall be prima facie proof of the issue of the original thereof to the
accused and that such original was handed to the accused.
(5) The provisions of section 55 shall mutatis mutandis apply with reference to a
written notice handed to an accused under subsection (1).
4 R5 000 - GN R62 in GG 36111 of 30 January 2013

CHAPTER 8
ADMISSION OF GUILT FINE (ss 57-57A)

57 Admission of guilt and payment of fine without appearance in court

(1) Where-
(a) a summons is issued against an accused under section 54 (in this section
referred to as the summons) and the public prosecutor or the clerk of the
court concerned on reasonable grounds believes that a magistrate's court,
on convicting the accused of the offence in question, will not impose a fine
exceeding the amount 5 determined by the Minister from time to time by
notice in the Gazette, and such public prosecutor or clerk of the court

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endorses the summons to the effect that the accused may admit his guilt in
respect of the offence in question and that he may pay a fine stipulated on
the summons in respect of such offence without appearing in court; or
[Para. (a) substituted by s. 3 (a) of Act 109 of 1984 and by s. 6 (a) of Act 5 of 1991.]
(b) a written notice under section 56 (in this section referred to as the written
notice) is handed to the accused and the endorsement in terms of
paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of that section purports to have been made
by a peace officer,
the accused may, without appearing in court, admit his guilt in respect of the offence
in question by paying the fine stipulated (in this section referred to as the admission of
guilt fine) either to the clerk of the magistrate's court which has jurisdiction or at any
police station within the area of jurisdiction of that court or, if the summons or written
notice in question is endorsed to the effect that the fine may be paid at a specified
local authority, at such local authority.
(2) (a) The summons or the written notice may stipulate that the admission of guilt
fine shall be paid before a date specified in the summons or written notice, as the case
may be.
(b) An admission of guilt fine may be accepted by the clerk of the court
concerned notwithstanding that the date referred to in paragraph (a) or the date on
which the accused should have appeared in court has expired.
(3) (a)(i) Subject to the provisions of subparagraphs (ii) and (iii), an accused who
intends to pay an admission of guilt fine in terms of subsection (1), shall surrender the
summons or the written notice, as the case may be, at the time of the payment of the
fine.
(ii) If the summons or written notice, as the case may be, is lost or is not
available and the copy thereof known as the control document-
(aa) is not available at the place of payment referred to in subsection (1), the
accused shall surrender a copy of the summons or written notice, as the
case may be, at the time of the payment of the fine; or
(bb) is available at the place of payment referred to in subsection (1), the
admission of guilt fine may be accepted without the surrender of a copy of
the summons or written notice, as the case may be.
(iii) If an accused in respect of whom a warrant has been endorsed in terms of
section 55 (2A) intends to pay the relevant admission of guilt fine, the clerk of the
court may, after he has satisfied himself that the warrant is so endorsed, accept the
admission of guilt fine without the surrender of the summons, written notice or copy
thereof, as the case may be.
[Para. (a) substituted by s. 2 (a) of Act 26 of 1987.]
(b) A copy referred to in paragraph (a) (ii) may be obtained by the accused at
the magistrate's court, police station or local authority where the copy of the summons
or written notice in question known as the control document is filed.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1), an accused referred to in
paragraph (a) (iii) may pay the admission of guilt fine in question to the clerk of the
court where he appears in consequence of such warrant, and if the said clerk of the
court is not the clerk of the magistrate's court referred to in subsection (1), he shall
transfer such admission of guilt fine to the latter clerk of the magistrate's court.
[Para. (c) substituted by s. 2 (b) of Act 26 of 1987.]
[Sub-s. (3) substituted by s. 6 of Act 33 of 1986.]

(4) No provision of this section shall be construed as preventing a public prosecutor

attached to the court concerned from reducing an admission of guilt fine on good cause
shown.
(5) (a) An admission of guilt fine stipulated in respect of a summons or a written
notice shall be in accordance with a determination which the magistrate of the district
or area in question may from time to time make in respect of any offence or, if the
magistrate has not made such a determination, in accordance with an amount

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determined in respect of any particular summons or any particular written notice by

either a public prosecutor attached to the court of such magistrate or a police official of
or above the rank of non-commissioned officer attached to a police station within the
magisterial district or area in question or, in the absence of such a police official at any
such police station, by the senior police official then in charge at such police station.
(b) An admission of guilt fine determined under paragraph (a) shall not exceed
the maximum of the fine prescribed in respect of the offence in question or the amount
6 determined by the Minister from time to time by notice in the Gazette, whichever is

the lesser.
[Para. (b) substituted by s. 3 (b) of Act 109 of 1984 and by s. 6 (b) of Act 5 of 1991.]

(6) An admission of guilt fine paid at a police station or a local authority in terms of
subsection (1) and the summons or, as the case may be, the written notice
surrendered under subsection (3), shall, as soon as is expedient, be forwarded to the
clerk of the magistrate's court which has jurisdiction, and such clerk of the court shall
thereafter, as soon as is expedient, enter the essential particulars of such summons or,
as the case may be, such written notice and of any summons or written notice
surrendered to the clerk of the court under subsection (3), in the criminal record book
for admissions of guilt, whereupon the accused concerned shall, subject to the
provisions of subsection (7), be deemed to have been convicted and sentenced by the
court in respect of the offence in question.
(7) The judicial officer presiding at the court in question shall examine the
documents and if it appears to him that a conviction or sentence under subsection (6)
is not in accordance with justice or that any such sentence, except as provided in
subsection (4), is not in accordance with a determination made by the magistrate
under subsection (5) or, where the determination under that subsection has not been
made by the magistrate, that the sentence is not adequate, such judicial officer may
set aside the conviction and sentence and direct that the accused be prosecuted in the
ordinary course, whereupon the accused may be summoned to answer such charge as
the public prosecutor may deem fit to prefer: Provided that where the admission of
guilt fine which has been paid exceeds the amount determined by the magistrate
under subsection (5), the said judicial officer may, in lieu of setting aside the
conviction and sentence in question, direct that the amount by which the said
admission of guilt fine exceeds the said determination be refunded to the accused
concerned.
[NB: S. 57 has been substituted by s. 7 of the Judicial Matters Amendment Act 66 of 2008, a
provision which will be put into operation by proclamation. See PENDLEX.]
5 R10 000 - GN R62 in GG 36111 of 30 January 2013
6 R10 000 - GN R62 in GG 36111 of 30 January 2013

57A Admission of guilt and payment of fine after appearing in court

(1) If an accused who is alleged to have committed an offence has appeared in
court and is-
(a) in custody awaiting trial on that charge and not on another more serious
charge;
(b) released on bail under section 59 or 60; or
(c) released on warning under section 72,
the public prosecutor may, before the accused has entered a plea and if he or she on
reasonable grounds believes that a magistrate's court, on convicting such accused of
that offence, will not impose a fine exceeding the amount 7 determined by the Minister
from time to time by notice in the Gazette, hand to the accused a written notice, or
cause such notice to be delivered to the accused by a peace officer, containing an
endorsement in terms of section 57 that the accused may admit his or her guilt in
respect of the offence in question and that he or she may pay a stipulated fine in
respect thereof without appearing in court again.

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[NB: Sub-s. (1) has been substituted by s. 8 (a) of the Judicial Matters Amendment Act 66 of
2008, a provision which will be put into operation by proclamation. See PENDLEX.]

(2) Such notice shall contain-

(a) the case number;
(b) a certificate under the hand of the prosecutor or peace officer affirming that
he or she handed or delivered, as the case may be, the original of such
notice to the accused and that he or she explained to the accused the
import thereof; and
(c) the particulars and instructions contemplated in paragraphs (a) and (b) of
section 56 (1).
(3) The public prosecutor shall endorse the charge-sheet to the effect that a notice
contemplated in this section has been issued and he or she or the peace officer, as the
case may be, shall forthwith forward a duplicate original of the notice to the clerk of
the court which has jurisdiction.
(4) The provisions of sections 55, 56 (2) and (4) and 57 (2) to (7), inclusive, shall
apply mutatis mutandis to the relevant written notice handed or delivered to an
accused under subsection (1) as if, in respect of section 57, such notice were the
written notice contemplated in that section and as if the fine stipulated in such written
notice were also the admission of guilt fine contemplated in that section.
[NB: Sub-s. (4) has been substituted by s. 8 (b) of the Judicial Matters Amendment Act 66 of
2008, a provision which will be put into operation by proclamation. See PENDLEX.]
[S. 57A inserted by s. 1 of Act 86 of 1996.]
7 R10 000 - GN R62 in GG 36111 of 30 January 2013

CHAPTER 9
BAIL (ss 58-71)

58 Effect of bail
The effect of bail granted in terms of the succeeding provisions is that an accused
who is in custody shall be released from custody upon payment of, or the furnishing of
a guarantee to pay, the sum of money determined for his bail, and that he shall appear
at the place and on the date and at the time appointed for his trial or to which the
proceedings relating to the offence in respect of which the accused is released on bail
are adjourned, and that the release shall, unless sooner terminated under the said
provisions, endure until a verdict is given by a court in respect of the charge to which
the offence in question relates, or, where sentence is not imposed forthwith after
verdict and the court in question extends bail, until sentence is imposed: Provided that
where a court convicts an accused of an offence contemplated in Schedule 5 or 6, the
court shall, in considering the question whether the accused's bail should be extended,
apply the provisions of section 60 (11) (a) or (b), as the case may be, and the court
shall take into account-
(a) the fact that the accused has been convicted of that offence; and
(b) the likely sentence which the court might impose.
[S. 58 amended by s. 2 of Act 85 of 1997.]

59 Bail before first appearance of accused in lower court

(1) (a) An accused who is in custody in respect of any offence, other than an
offence 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 police official.
[Para. (a) substituted by s. 3 of Act 26 of 1987, by s. 1 of Act 126 of 1992 and by s. 2 of Act
75 of 1995.]

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(b) The police official referred to in paragraph (a) shall, at the time of releasing
the accused on bail, complete and hand to the accused a recognizance on which a
receipt shall be given for the sum of money deposited as bail and on which the offence
in respect of which the bail is granted and the place, date and time of the trial of the
accused are entered.
(c) The said police official shall forthwith forward a duplicate original of such
recognizance to the clerk of the court which has jurisdiction.
(2) Bail granted under this section shall, if it is of force at the time of the first
appearance of the accused in a lower court, but subject to the provisions of section 62,
remain in force after such appearance in the same manner as bail granted by the court
under section 60 at the time of such first appearance.

59A Attorney-general may authorise release on bail

(1) An attorney-general, or a prosecutor authorised thereto in writing by the
attorney-general concerned, may, in respect of the offences referred to in Schedule 7
and in consultation with the police official charged with the investigation, authorise the
release of an accused on bail.
(2) For the purposes of exercising the functions contemplated in subsections (1) and
(3) an attorney-general may, after consultation with the Minister, issue directives.
(3) The effect of bail granted in terms of this section is that the person who is in
custody shall be released from custody-
(a) upon payment of, or the furnishing of a guarantee to pay, the sum of
money determined for his or her bail at his or her place of detention
contemplated in section 50 (1) (a);
(b) subject to reasonable conditions imposed by the attorney-general or
prosecutor concerned; or
(c) the payment of such sum of money or the furnishing of such guarantee to
pay and the imposition of such conditions.
(4) An accused released in terms of subsection (3) shall appear on the first court
day at the court and at the time determined by the attorney-general or prosecutor
concerned and the release shall endure until he or she so appears before the court on
the first court day.
(5) The court before which a person appears in terms of subsection (4)-
(a) may extend the bail on the same conditions or amend such conditions or
add further conditions as contemplated in section 62; or
(b) shall, if the court does not deem it appropriate to exercise the powers
contemplated in paragraph (a), consider the bail application and, in
considering such application, the court has the jurisdiction relating to the
powers, functions and duties in respect of bail proceedings in terms of
section 60.
(6) The provisions of section 64 with regard to the recording of bail proceedings by
a court apply, with the necessary changes, in respect of bail granted in terms of this
section.
(7) For all purposes of this Act, but subject to the provisions of this section, bail
granted in terms of this section shall be regarded as bail granted by a court in terms of
section 60.
[S. 59A inserted by s. 3 of Act 85 of 1997.]

60 Bail application of accused in court

(1) (a) An accused who is in custody in respect of an offence shall, subject to the
provisions of section 50 (6), be entitled to be released on bail at any stage preceding
his or her conviction in respect of such offence, if the court is satisfied that the
interests of justice so permit.

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[Para. (a) substituted by s. 9 (a) of Act 62 of 2000.]

(b) Subject to the provisions of section 50 (6) (c), the court referring an accused
to any other court for trial or sentencing retains jurisdiction relating to the powers,
functions and duties in respect of bail in terms of this Act until the accused appears in
such other court for the first time.
[Para. (b) substituted by s. 4 (a) of Act 85 of 1997 and by s. 5 (a) of Act 34 of 1998.]
(c) If the question of the possible release of the accused on bail is not raised by
the accused or the prosecutor, the court shall ascertain from the accused whether he
or she wishes that question to be considered by the court.
(2) In bail proceedings the court-
(a) may postpone any such proceedings as contemplated in section 50 (6);
(b) may, in respect of matters that are not in dispute between the accused and
the prosecutor, acquire in an informal manner the information that is
needed for its decision or order regarding bail;
(c) may, in respect of matters that are in dispute between the accused and the
prosecutor, require of the prosecutor or the accused, as the case may be,
that evidence be adduced;
(d) shall, where the prosecutor does not oppose bail in respect of matters
referred to in subsection (11) (a) and (b), require of the prosecutor to place
on record the reasons for not opposing the bail application.
[Sub-s. (2) substituted by s. 4 (b) of Act 85 of 1997.]

(2A) The court must, before reaching a decision on the bail application, take into
consideration any pre-trial services report regarding the desirability of releasing an
accused on bail, if such a report is available.
[Sub-s. (2A) inserted by s. 4 of Act 55 of 2003.]

(2B) (a) If the court is satisfied that the interests of justice permit the release of an
accused on bail as provided for in subsection (1), and if the payment of a sum of
money is to be considered as a condition of bail, the court must hold a separate inquiry
into the ability of the accused to pay the sum of money being considered or any other
appropriate sum.
(b) If, after an inquiry referred to in paragraph (a), it is found that the accused
is-
(i) unable to pay any sum of money, the court must consider setting
appropriate conditions that do not include an amount of money for the
release of the accused on bail or must consider the release of the accused
in terms of a guarantee as provided for in subsection (13) (b); or
(ii) able to pay a sum of money, the court must consider setting conditions for
the release of the accused on bail and a sum of money which is appropriate
in the circumstances.
[Sub-s. (2B) inserted by s. 9 (a) of Act 66 of 2008.]

(3) If the court is of the opinion that it does not have reliable or sufficient
information or evidence at its disposal or that it lacks certain important information to
reach a decision on the bail application, the presiding officer shall order that such
information or evidence be placed before the court.
(4) The interests of justice do not permit the release from detention of an accused
where one or more of the following grounds are established:
(a) Where there is the likelihood that the accused, if he or she were released on
bail, will endanger the safety of the public or any particular person or will
commit a Schedule 1 offence; or
[Para. (a) substituted by s. 4 (c) of Act 85 of 1997.]
(b) where there is the likelihood that the accused, if he or she were released on
bail, will attempt to evade his or her trial; or
(c) where there is the likelihood that the accused, if he or she were released on
bail, will attempt to influence or intimidate witnesses or to conceal or
destroy evidence; or

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 40 of 221

(d) where there is the likelihood that the accused, if he or she were released on
bail, will undermine or jeopardise the objectives or the proper functioning of
the criminal justice system, including the bail system;
(e) where in exceptional circumstances there is the likelihood that the release
of the accused will disturb the public order or undermine the public peace
or security; or [sic]
[Para. (e) added by s. 4 (d) of Act 85 of 1997.]
[Sub-s. (4) amended by s. 9 (b) of 62 of 2000.]

(5) In considering whether the ground in subsection (4) (a) has been established,
the court may, where applicable, take into account the following factors, namely-
(a) the degree of violence towards others implicit in the charge against the
accused;
(b) any threat of violence which the accused may have made to any person;
(c) any resentment the accused is alleged to harbour against any person;
(d) any disposition to violence on the part of the accused, as is evident from his
or her past conduct;
(e) any disposition of the accused to commit offences referred to in Schedule 1,
as is evident from his or her past conduct;
(f) the prevalence of a particular type of offence;
(g) any evidence that the accused previously committed an offence referred to
in Schedule 1 while released on bail; or
(h) any other factor which in the opinion of the court should be taken into
account.
(6) In considering whether the ground in subsection (4) (b) has been established,
the court may, where applicable, take into account the following factors, namely-
(a) the emotional, family, community or occupational ties of the accused to the
place at which he or she is to be tried;
(b) the assets held by the accused and where such assets are situated;
(c) the means, and travel documents held by the accused, which may enable
him or her to leave the country;
(d) the extent, if any, to which the accused can afford to forfeit the amount of
bail which may be set;
(e) the question whether the extradition of the accused could readily be
effected should he or she flee across the borders of the Republic in an
attempt to evade his or her trial;
(f) the nature and the gravity of the charge on which the accused is to be tried;
(g) the strength of the case against the accused and the incentive that he or
she may in consequence have to attempt to evade his or her trial;
(h) the nature and gravity of the punishment which is likely to be imposed
should the accused be convicted of the charges against him or her;
(i) the binding effect and enforceability of bail conditions which may be imposed
and the ease with which such conditions could be breached; or
(j) any other factor which in the opinion of the court should be taken into
account.
(7) In considering whether the ground in subsection (4) (c) has been established,
the court may, where applicable, take into account the following factors, namely-
(a) the fact that the accused is familiar with the identity of witnesses and with
the evidence which they may bring against him or her;
(b) whether the witnesses have already made statements and agreed to testify;
(c) whether the investigation against the accused has already been completed;
(d) the relationship of the accused with the various witnesses and the extent to
which they could be influenced or intimidated;

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 41 of 221

(e) how effective and enforceable bail conditions prohibiting communication

between the accused and witnesses are likely to be;
(f) whether the accused has access to evidentiary material which is to be
presented at his or her trial;
(g) the ease with which evidentiary material could be concealed or destroyed;
or
(h) any other factor which in the opinion of the court should be taken into
account.
(8) In considering whether the ground in subsection (4) (d) has been established,
the court may, where applicable, take into account the following factors, namely-
(a) the fact that the accused, knowing it to be false, supplied false information
at the time of his or her arrest or during the bail proceedings;
(b) whether the accused is in custody on another charge or whether the
accused is on parole;
(c) any previous failure on the part of the accused to comply with bail
conditions or any indication that he or she will not comply with any bail
conditions; or
(d) any other factor which in the opinion of the court should be taken into
account.
(8A) In considering whether the ground in subsection (4) (e) has been established,
the court may, where applicable, take into account the following factors, namely-
(a) whether the nature of the offence or the circumstances under which the
offence was committed is likely to induce a sense of shock or outrage in the
community where the offence was committed;
(b) whether the shock or outrage of the community might lead to public
disorder if the accused is released;
(c) whether the safety of the accused might be jeopardized by his or her
release;
(d) whether the sense of peace and security among members of the public will
be undermined or jeopardized by the release of the accused;
(e) whether the release of the accused will undermine or jeopardize the public
confidence in the criminal justice system; or
(f) any other factor which in the opinion of the court should be taken into
account.
[Sub-s. (8A) inserted by s. 4 (e) of Act 85 of 1997.]

(9) In considering the question in subsection (4) the court shall decide the matter
by weighing the interests of justice against the right of the accused to his or her
personal freedom and in particular the prejudice he or she is likely to suffer if he or she
were to be detained in custody, taking into account, where applicable, the following
factors, namely-
(a) the period for which the accused has already been in custody since his or
her arrest;
(b) the probable period of detention until the disposal or conclusion of the trial
if the accused is not released on bail;
(c) the reason for any delay in the disposal or conclusion of the trial and any
fault on the part of the accused with regard to such delay;
(d) any financial loss which the accused may suffer owing to his or her
detention;
(e) any impediment to the preparation of the accused's defence or any delay in
obtaining legal representation which may be brought about by the detention
of the accused;
(f) the state of health of the accused; or
(g) any other factor which in the opinion of the court should be taken into

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 42 of 221

account.
(10) Notwithstanding the fact that the prosecution does not oppose the granting of
bail, the court has the duty, contemplated in subsection (9), to weigh up the personal
interests of the accused against the interests of justice.
(11) Notwithstanding any provision of this Act, where an accused is charged with an
offence referred to-
(a) in Schedule 6, the court shall order that the accused be detained in custody
until he or she is dealt with in accordance with the law, unless the accused,
having been given a reasonable opportunity to do so, adduces evidence
which satisfies the court that exceptional circumstances exist which in the
interests of justice permit his or her release;
(b) in Schedule 5, but not in Schedule 6, the court shall order that the accused
be detained in custody until he or she is dealt with in accordance with the
law, unless the accused, having been given a reasonable opportunity to do
so, adduces evidence which satisfies the court that the interests of justice
permit his or her release.
[Sub-s. (11) substituted by s. 4 (f) of Act 85 of 1997.]

(11A) (a) If the attorney-general intends charging any person with an offence
referred to in Schedule 5 or 6 the attorney-general may, irrespective of what charge is
noted on the charge sheet, at any time before such person pleads to the charge, issue
a written confirmation to the effect that he or she intends to charge the accused with
an offence referred to in Schedule 5 or 6.
(b) The written confirmation shall be handed in at the court in question by the
prosecutor as soon as possible after the issuing thereof and forms part of the record of
that court.
(c) Whenever the question arises in a bail application or during bail proceedings
whether any person is charged or is to be charged with an offence referred to in
Schedule 5 or 6, a written confirmation issued by an attorney-general under paragraph
(a) shall, upon its mere production at such application or proceedings, be prima facie
proof of the charge to be brought against that person.
[Sub-s. (11A) inserted by s. 4 (g) of Act 85 of 1997.]

(11B) (a) In bail proceedings the accused, or his or her legal adviser, is compelled
to inform the court whether-
(i) the accused has previously been convicted of any offence; and
(ii) there are any charges pending against him or her and whether he or she
has been released on bail in respect of those charges.
(b) Where the legal adviser of an accused on behalf of the accused submits the
information contemplated in paragraph (a), whether in writing or orally, the accused
shall be required by the court to declare whether he or she confirms such information
or not.
(c) The record of the bail proceedings, excluding the information in paragraph
(a), shall form part of the record of the trial of the accused following upon such bail
proceedings: Provided that if the accused elects to testify during the course of the bail
proceedings the court must inform him or her of the fact that anything he or she says,
may be used against him or her at his or her trial and such evidence becomes
admissible in any subsequent proceedings.
(d) An accused who wilfully-
(i) fails or refuses to comply with the provisions of paragraph (a); or
(ii) furnishes the court with false information required in terms of paragraph
(a),
shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment for a
period not exceeding two years.
[Sub-s. (11B) inserted by s. 4 (g) of Act 85 of 1997.]

(12) The court may make the release of an accused on bail subject to conditions

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 43 of 221

which, in the court's opinion, are in the interests of justice.

(13) The court releasing an accused on bail in terms of this section may order that
the accused-
(a) deposit with the clerk of any magistrate's court or the registrar of any High
Court, as the case may be, or with a correctional official at the correctional
facility where the accused is in custody or with a police official at the place
where the accused is in custody, the sum of money determined by the court
in question; or
(b) shall furnish a guarantee, with or without sureties, that he or she will pay
and forfeit to the State the amount that has been set as bail, or that has
been increased or reduced in terms of section 63 (1), in circumstances in
which the amount would, had it been deposited, have been forfeited to the
State.
[Sub-s. (13) substituted by s. 9 (b) of Act 66 of 2008.]

(14) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any law, no accused

shall, for the purposes of bail proceedings, have access to any information, record or
document relating to the offence in question, which is contained in, or forms part of, a
police docket, including any information, record or document which is held by any
police official charged with the investigation in question, unless the prosecutor
otherwise directs: Provided that this subsection shall not be construed as denying an
accused access to any information, record or document to which he or she may be
entitled for purposes of his or her trial.
[Sub-s. (14) added by s. 4 (h) of Act 85 of 1997 and amended by s. 5 (b) of Act 34 of 1998.]
[S. 60 amended by s. 2 of Act 56 of 1979 and by s. 2 of Act 64 of 1982 and substituted by s. 3
of Act 75 of 1995.]

61 ......
[S. 61 repealed by s. 4 of Act 75 of 1995.]

62 Court may add further conditions of bail

Any court before which a charge is pending in respect of which bail has been
granted, may at any stage, whether the bail was granted by that court or any other
court, on application by the prosecutor, add any further condition of bail-
(a) with regard to the reporting in person by the accused at any specified time
and place to any specified person or authority;
(b) with regard to any place to which the accused is forbidden to go;
(c) with regard to the prohibition of or control over communication by the
accused with witnesses for the prosecution;
(d) with regard to the place at which any document may be served on him
under this Act;
(e) which, in the opinion of the court, will ensure that the proper administration
of justice is not placed in jeopardy by the release of the accused;
(f) which provides that the accused shall be placed under the supervision of a
probation officer or a correctional official.
[Para. (f) added by s. 38 8 of Act 122 of 1991.]
8 Section 38 of Act 122 of 1991 commenced on different dates in respect of different magisterial
districts

63 Amendment of conditions of bail

(1) Any court before which a charge is pending in respect of which bail has been
granted may, upon the application of the prosecutor or the accused, increase or reduce
the amount of bail determined under section 59 or 60 or amend or supplement any
condition imposed under section 60 or 62, whether imposed by that court or any other

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 44 of 221

court, and may, where the application is made by the prosecutor and the accused is
not present when the application is made, issue a warrant for the arrest of the accused
and, when the accused is present in court, determine the application.
[Sub-s. (1) substituted by s. 5 of Act 75 of 1995.]

(2) If the court referred to in subsection (1) is a superior court, an application under
that subsection may be made to any judge of that court if the court is not sitting at the
time of the application.

63A Release or amendment of bail conditions of accused on account of prison

conditions
(1) If a Head of Prison contemplated in the Correctional Services Act, 1998 (Act 111
of 1998), is satisfied that the prison population of a particular prison is reaching such
proportions that it constitutes a material and imminent threat to the human dignity,
physical health or safety of an accused-
(a) who is charged with an offence falling within the category of offences-
(i) for which a police official may grant bail in terms of section 59; or
(ii) referred to in Schedule 7;
(b) who has been granted bail by any lower court in respect of that offence, but
is unable to pay the amount of bail concerned; and
(c) who is not also in detention in respect of any other offence falling outside
the category of offences referred to in paragraph (a),
that Head of Prison may apply to the said court for the-
(aa) release of the accused on warning in lieu of bail; or
(bb) amendment of the bail conditions imposed by that court on the accused.
(2) (a) An application contemplated in subsection (1) must be lodged in writing with
the clerk of the court, and must-
(i) contain an affidavit or affirmation by the Head of Prison to the effect that
he or she is satisfied that the prison population of the prison concerned is
reaching such proportions that it constitutes a material and imminent threat
to the human dignity, physical health or safety of the accused concerned;
and
(ii) contain a written certificate by the Director of Public Prosecutions
concerned, or a prosecutor authorised thereto by him or her in writing, to
the effect that the prosecuting authority does not oppose the application.
(b) The accused and his or her legal representative, if any, must be notified of an
application referred to in subsection (1).
(c) The clerk of the court must, without delay, cause the application to be placed
before any magistrate or regional magistrate, as the case may be, who may consider
the application in chambers.
(d) The application may be considered in the presence of the accused if the
magistrate or regional magistrate deems it necessary.
(3) (a) If the magistrate or regional magistrate is satisfied that the application
complies with the requirements set out in subsection (2) (a), he or she may-
(i) order the release of the accused from custody and, if the accused is
present, warn him or her to appear before a specified court at a specified
time on a specified date in connection with such offence or, as the case
may be, to remain in attendance at the proceedings relating to the offence
in question, and the court may, at the time of such order or at any time
thereafter, impose any condition referred to in section 62 in connection with
such release; or
(ii) reduce the amount of bail determined under section 60 and, if deemed
appropriate, amend or supplement any condition imposed under section 60
or 62.

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(b) If the accused is absent when an order referred to in paragraph (a) (i) is
made or when bail conditions are amended in terms of paragraph (a) (ii), a
correctional official duly authorised by the Head of the prison where the accused is in
custody must-
(i) hand to the accused a certified copy of the said order or of the bail
conditions as amended and explain to the accused the import thereof; and
(ii) return to the clerk of the court a certificate under the hand of that official
and signed by the accused, that he or she has handed the certified copy of
such order or conditions to the accused and that he or she has explained to
the accused the import thereof,
and the mere production to the court of the said certificate shall be prima facie proof
that the said certified copy was handed and explained to the accused.
(c) The provisions of section 72 (2) (a) apply, with the necessary changes, in
respect of an accused released in terms of paragraph (a) (i).
(4) (a) The National Director of Public Prosecutions may, in consultation with the
Commissioner of Correctional Services, issue directives regarding-
(i) the establishment of monitoring and consultative mechanisms for bringing
an application contemplated in subsection (1); and
(ii) the procedure to be followed by a Head of Prison and a Director of Public
Prosecutions whenever it appears that it is necessary to bring an application
contemplated in subsection (1).
(b) Any directives issued in terms of paragraph (a) must be submitted to
Parliament before they take effect.
[S. 63A inserted by s. 6 of Act 42 of 2001.]

64 Proceedings with regard to bail and conditions to be recorded in full

The court dealing with bail proceedings as contemplated in section 50 (6) or which
considers bail under section 60 or which imposes any further condition under section
62 or which, under section 63 or 63A, amends the amount of bail or amends or
supplements any condition or refuses to do so, shall record the relevant proceedings in
full, including the conditions imposed and any amendment or supplementation thereof,
or shall cause such proceedings to be recorded in full, and where such court is a
magistrate's court or a regional court, any document purporting to be an extract from
the record of proceedings of that court and purporting to be certified as correct by the
clerk of the court, and which sets out the conditions of bail and any amendment or
supplementation thereof, shall, on its mere production in any court in which the
relevant charge is pending, be prima facie proof of such conditions or any amendment
or supplementation thereof.
[S. 64 substituted by s. 6 of Act 75 of 1995, by s. 5 of Act 85 of 1997 and by s. 7 of Act 42 of
2001.]

65 Appeal to superior court with regard to bail

(1) (a) An accused who considers himself aggrieved by the refusal by a lower court
to admit him to bail or by the imposition by such court of a condition of bail, including
a condition relating to the amount of bail money and including an amendment or
supplementation of a condition of bail, may appeal against such refusal or the
imposition of such condition to the superior court having jurisdiction or to any judge of
that court if the court is not then sitting.
(b) The appeal may be heard by a single judge.
(c) A local division of the Supreme Court shall have jurisdiction to hear an appeal
under paragraph (a) if the area of jurisdiction of the lower court in question or any part
thereof falls within the area of jurisdiction of such local division.
(2) An appeal shall not lie in respect of new facts which arise or are discovered after
the decision against which the appeal is brought, unless such new facts are first placed
before the magistrate or regional magistrate against whose decision the appeal is

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 46 of 221

brought and such magistrate or regional magistrate gives a decision against the
accused on such new facts.
(3) The accused shall serve a copy of the notice of appeal on the attorney-general
and on the magistrate or, as the case may be, the regional magistrate, and the
magistrate or regional magistrate shall forthwith furnish the reasons for his decision to
the court or judge, as the case may be.
(4) The court or judge hearing the appeal shall not set aside the decision against
which the appeal is brought, unless such court or judge is satisfied that the decision
was wrong, in which event the court or judge shall give the decision which in its or his
opinion the lower court should have given.

65A Appeal by attorney-general against decision of court to release accused

on bail
(1) (a) The attorney-general may appeal to the superior court having jurisdiction,
against the decision of a lower court to release an accused on bail or against the
imposition of a condition of bail as contemplated in section 65 (1) (a).
(b) The provisions of section 310A in respect of an application or appeal referred
to in that section by an attorney-general, and the provisions of section 65 (1) (b) and
(c) and (2), (3) and (4) in respect of an appeal referred to in that section by an
accused, shall apply mutatis mutandis with reference to a case in which the attorney-
general appeals in terms of paragraph (a) of this subsection.
(2) (a) The attorney-general may appeal to the Appellate Division against a decision
of a superior court to release an accused on bail.
(b) The provisions of section 316 in respect of an application or appeal referred
to in that section by an accused, shall apply mutatis mutandis with reference to a case
in which the attorney-general appeals in terms of paragraph (a) of this subsection.
(c) Upon an appeal in terms of paragraph (a) or an application referred to in
paragraph (b) brought by an attorney-general, the court may order that the State pay
the accused concerned the whole or any part of the costs to which the accused may
have been put in opposing the appeal or application, taxed according to the scale in
civil cases of that court.
(3) If the appeal of the attorney-general in terms of subsection (1) (a) or (2) (a) is
successful, the court hearing the appeal shall issue a warrant for the arrest of the
accused.
[S. 65A inserted by s. 7 of Act 75 of 1995.]

66 Failure by accused to observe condition of bail

(1) If an accused is released on bail subject to any condition imposed under section
60 or 62, including any amendment or supplementation under section 63 of a condition
of bail, and the prosecutor applies to the court before which the charge with regard to
which the accused has been released on bail is pending, to lead evidence to prove that
the accused has failed to comply with such condition, the court shall, if the accused is
present and denies that he or she failed to comply with such condition or that his or
her failure to comply with such condition was due to fault on his or her part, proceed to
hear such evidence as the prosecutor and the accused may place before it.
[Sub-s. (1) substituted by s. 8 of Act 75 of 1995.]

(2) If the accused is not present when the prosecutor applies to the court under
subsection (1), the court may issue a warrant for the arrest of the accused, and shall,
when the accused appears before the court and denies that he failed to comply with
the condition in question or that his failure to comply with such condition was due to
fault on his part, proceed to hear such evidence as the prosecutor and the accused
may place before it.
(3) If the accused admits that he failed to comply with the condition in question or if
the court finds that he failed to comply with such condition, the court may, if it finds
that the failure by the accused was due to fault on his part, cancel the bail and declare

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 47 of 221

the bail money forfeited to the State.

(4) The proceedings and the evidence under this section shall be recorded.

67 Failure of accused on bail to appear

(1) If an accused who is released on bail-
(a) fails to appear at the place and on the date and at the time-
(i) appointed for his trial; or
(ii) to which the proceedings relating to the offence in respect of which
the accused is released on bail are adjourned; or
(b) fails to remain in attendance at such trial or at such proceedings,
the court before which the matter is pending shall declare the bail provisionally
cancelled and the bail money provisionally forfeited to the State, and issue a warrant
for the arrest of the accused.
(2) (a) If the accused appears before court within fourteen days of the issue under
subsection (1) of the warrant of arrest, the court shall confirm the provisional
cancellation of the bail and the provisional forfeiture of the bail money, unless the
accused satisfies the court that his failure under subsection (1) to appear or to remain
in attendance was not due to fault on his part.
(b) If the accused satisfies the court that his failure was not due to fault on his
part, the provisional cancellation of the bail and the provisional forfeiture of the bail
money shall lapse.
(c) If the accused does not appear before court within fourteen days of the issue
under subsection (1) of the warrant of arrest or within such extended period as the
court may on good cause determine, the provisional cancellation of the bail and the
provisional forfeiture of the bail money shall become final.
(3) The court may receive such evidence as it may consider necessary to satisfy
itself that the accused has under subsection (1) failed to appear or failed to remain in
attendance, and such evidence shall be recorded.

67A Criminal liability of a person who is on bail on the ground of failure to

appear or to comply with a condition of bail
Any person who has been released on bail and who fails without good cause to
appear on the date and at the place determined for his or her appearance, or to
remain in attendance until the proceedings in which he or she must appear have been
disposed of, or who fails without good cause to comply with a condition of bail imposed
by the court in terms of section 60 or 62, including an amendment or supplementation
thereof in terms of section 63, shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be
liable to a fine or to imprisonment not exceeding one year.
[S. 67A inserted by s. 9 of Act 75 of 1995.]

68 Cancellation of bail
(1) Any court before which a charge is pending in respect of which bail has been
granted may, whether the accused has been released or not, upon information on oath
that-
(a) the accused is about to evade justice or is about to abscond in order to
evade justice;
(b) the accused has interfered or threatened or attempted to interfere with
witnesses;
(c) the accused has defeated or attempted to defeat the ends of justice;
(d) the accused poses a threat to the safety of the public or of a particular
person;
(e) the accused has not disclosed or has not correctly disclosed all his or her
previous convictions in the bail proceedings or where his or her true list of

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 48 of 221

previous convictions has come to light after his or her release on bail;
(f) further evidence has since become available or factors have arisen,
including the fact that the accused has furnished false information in the
bail proceedings, which might have affected the decision to grant bail; or
(g) it is in the interests of justice to do so,
issue a warrant for the arrest of the accused and make such order as it may deem
proper, including an order that the bail be cancelled and that the accused be
committed to prison until the conclusion of the relevant criminal proceedings.
(2) Any magistrate may, in circumstances in which it is not practicable to obtain a
warrant of arrest under subsection (1), upon the application of any peace officer and
upon a written statement on oath by such officer that-
(a) he or she has reason to believe that-
(i) an accused who has been released on bail is about to evade justice
or is about to abscond in order to evade justice;
(ii) the accused has interfered or threatened or attempted to interfere
with witnesses;
(iii) the accused has defeated or attempted to defeat the ends of
justice; or
(iv) the accused poses a threat to the safety of the public or of a
particular person;
(b) the accused has not disclosed or has not correctly disclosed all his or her
previous convictions in the bail proceedings or where his or her true list of
previous convictions has come to light after his or her release on bail;
(c) further evidence has since become available or factors have arisen,
including the fact that the accused has furnished false information in the
bail proceedings, which might have affected the decision to release the
accused on bail; or
(d) it is in the interests of justice to do so,
issue a warrant for the arrest of the accused, and may, if satisfied that the ends of
justice may be defeated if the accused is not placed in custody, cancel the bail and
commit the accused to prison, which committal shall remain of force until the
conclusion of the relevant criminal proceedings unless the court before which the
proceedings are pending sooner reinstates the bail.
[S. 68 substituted by s. 10 of Act 75 of 1995 and by s. 6 of Act 85 of 1997.]

68A Cancellation of bail at request of accused

Any court before which a charge is pending in respect of which the accused has
been released on bail may, upon application by the accused, cancel the bail and refund
the bail money if the accused is in custody on any other charge or is serving a
sentence.
[S. 68A inserted by s. 15 of Act 59 of 1983.]

69 Payment of bail money by third person

(1) No provision of section 59 or 60 shall prevent the payment by any person, other
that the accused, of bail money for the benefit of the accused.
(2) Bail money, whether deposited by an accused or any other person for the
benefit of the accused, shall, notwithstanding that such bail money or any part thereof
may have been ceded to any person, be refunded only to the accused or the depositor,
as the case may be.
(3) No person shall be allowed to deposit for the benefit of an accused any bail
money in terms of this section if the official concerned has reason to believe that such
person, at any time before or after depositing such bail money, has been indemnified
or will be indemnified by any person in any manner against loss of such bail money or

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 49 of 221

that he has received or will receive any financial benefit in connection with the
deposit of such bail money.

70 Remission of bail money

The Minister or any officer acting under his or her authority or the court concerned
may remit the whole or any part of any bail money forfeited under section 66 or 67.
[S. 70 substituted by s. 11 of Act 75 of 1995.]

71 ......
[S. 71 substituted by s. 4 of Act 26 of 1987 and by s. 39 9 of Act 122 of 1991 and repealed by
s. 99 (1) of Act 75 of 2008.]
9 Section 39 of Act 122 of 1991 commenced on different dates in respect of different magisterial
districts

CHAPTER 10
RELEASE ON WARNING (ss 72-72A)

72 Accused may be released on warning in lieu of bail

(1) Subject to section 4 (2) of the Child Justice Act, 2008, if an accused who is
eighteen years or older is in custody in respect of any offence and a police official or a
court may in respect of such offence release the accused on bail under section 59 or
60, as the case may be, such police official or such court, as the case may be, may, in
lieu of bail and if the offence is not, in the case of such police official, an offence
referred to in Part II or Part III of Schedule 2-
(a) release the accused from custody and warn him to appear before a specified
court at a specified time on a specified date in connection with such offence
or, as the case may be, to remain in attendance at the proceedings relating
to the offence in question, and the said court may, at the time of such
release or at any time thereafter, impose any condition referred to in
section 62 in connection with such release.
[Para. (a) substituted by s. 7 (a) of Act 33 of 1986.]
(b) ......
[Para. (b) substituted by s. 7 (b) of Act 33 of 1986 and deleted by s. 99 (1) of Act 75 of 2008.]
[Sub-s. (1) amended by s. 5 of Act 26 of 1987, by s. 2 of Act 126 of 1992 and by s. 99 (1) of
Act 75 of 2008.]

(2) (a) An accused who is released under subsection (1) (a) and who fails to appear
or, as the case may be, to remain in attendance at the proceedings in accordance with
a warning under that paragraph, or who fails to comply with a condition imposed under
subsection (1) (a), shall be guilty of an offence and liable to the punishment prescribed
under subsection (4).
(b) ......
[Para. (b) deleted by s. 99 (1) of Act 75 of 2008.]
[Sub-s. (2) substituted by s. 7 (c) of Act 33 of 1986.]

(3) (a) A police official who releases an accused under subsection (1) (a) shall, at
the time of releasing the accused, complete and hand to the accused and, in the case
of subsection (1) (b), to the person in whose custody the accused is, a written notice
on which shall be entered the offence in respect of which the accused is being released
and the court before which and the time at which and the date on which the accused
shall appear.
(b) A court which releases an accused under subsection (1) shall, at the time of
releasing the accused, record or cause the relevant proceedings to be recorded in full,
and where such court is a magistrate's court or a regional court, any document
purporting to be an extract from the record of proceedings of that court and purporting
to be certified as correct by the clerk of the court and which sets out the warning
relating to the court before which, the time at which and the date on which the

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 50 of 221

accused is to appear or the conditions on which he was released, shall, on its

mere production in any court in which the relevant charge is pending, be prima facie
proof of such warning.
[Para. (b) substituted by s. 7 (d) of Act 33 of 1986.]

(4) The court may, if satisfied that an accused referred to in subsection (2) (a) or a
person referred to in subsection (2) (b), was duly warned in terms of paragraph (a) or,
as the case may be, paragraph (b) of subsection (1), and that such accused or such
person has failed to comply with such warning or to comply with a condition imposed,
issue a warrant for his arrest, and may, when he is brought before the court, in a
summary manner enquire into his failure and, unless such accused or such person
satisfies the court that 10 his failure was not due to fault on his part, sentence him to a
fine not exceeding R300 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months.
[Sub-s. (4) substituted by s. 7 (e) of Act 33 of 1986.]
10 The omission from sub-s. (4) between the words 'that' and 'his failure' of the words 'there is a
reasonable possibility that' was ordered inconsistent with the Constitution by the Constitutional Court
and sub-s. (4) was ordered to be read as though the above omitted words appear therein - GN R888
in GG 23535 of 28 June 2002. (See S v Singo 2002 (2) SACR 160 (CC) & 2002 (4) SA 858 (CC))

72A Cancellation of release on warning

Notwithstanding the provisions of section 72 (4), the provisions of section 68 (1)
and (2) in respect of an accused who has been granted bail, are, with the necessary
changes, applicable in respect of an accused who has been released on warning.
[S. 72A inserted by s. 7 of Act 85 of 1997.]

CHAPTER 11
ASSISTANCE TO ACCUSED (ss 73-74)

73 Accused entitled to assistance after arrest and at criminal proceedings

(1) An accused who is arrested, whether with or without warrant, shall, subject to
any law relating to the management of prisons, be entitled to the assistance of his
legal adviser as from the time of his arrest.
(2) An accused shall be entitled to be represented by his legal adviser at criminal
proceedings, if such legal adviser is not in terms of any law prohibited from appearing
at the proceedings in question.
(2A) Every accused shall-
(a) at the time of his or her arrest;
(b) when he or she is served with a summons in terms of section 54;
(c) when a written notice is handed to him or her in terms of section 56;
(d) when an indictment is served on him or her in terms of section 144 (4) (a);
(e) at his or her first appearance in court,
be informed of his or her right to be represented at his or her own expense by a legal
adviser of his or her own choice and if he or she cannot afford legal representation,
that he or she may apply for legal aid and of the institutions which he or she may
approach for legal assistance.
[Sub-s. (2A) inserted by s. 2 of Act 86 of 1996.]

(2B) Every accused shall be given a reasonable opportunity to obtain legal

assistance.
[Sub-s. (2B) inserted by s. 2 of Act 86 of 1996.]

(2C) If an accused refuses or fails to appoint a legal adviser of his or her own choice
within a reasonable time and his or her failure to do so is due to his or her own fault,
the court may, in addition to any order which it may make in terms of section 342A,
order that the trial proceed without legal representation unless the court is of the

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 51 of 221

opinion that that would result in substantial injustice, in which event the court may,
subject to the Legal Aid South Africa Act, 2014, order that a legal adviser be assigned
to the accused at the expense of the State: Provided that the court may order that the
costs of such representation be recovered from the accused: Provided further that the
accused shall not be compelled to appoint a legal adviser if he or she prefers to
conduct his or her own defence.
[Sub-s. (2C) inserted by s. 2 of Act 86 of 1996 and amended by s. 25 (1) of Act 39 of 2014.]

(3) In addition to the provisions of sections 3 (g), 38 (2), 44 (1) (b) and 65 of the
Child Justice Act, 2008 (Act 75 of 2008), relating to the assistance of an accused who
is under the age of eighteen years by his or her parent, an appropriate adult or a
guardian at criminal proceedings, any accused who, in the opinion of the court,
requires the assistance of another person at criminal proceedings, may, with the
permission of the court, be so assisted at such proceedings.
[Sub-s. (3) substituted by s. 99 (1) of Act 75 of 2008 and by s. 5 of Act 42 of 2013.]

74 ......
[S. 74 amended by s. 8 of Act 33 of 1986 and repealed by s. 99 (1) of Act 75 of 2008.]

CHAPTER 12
SUMMARY TRIAL (ss 75-76)

75 Summary trial and court of trial

(1) When an accused is to be tried in a court in respect of an offence, he shall,
subject to the provisions of sections 119, 122A and 123, be tried at a summary trial in-
(a) a court which has jurisdiction and in which he appeared for the first time in
respect of such offence in accordance with any method referred to in
section 38;
(b) a court which has jurisdiction and to which he was referred to under
subsection (2); or
(c) any other court which has jurisdiction and which has been designated by
the attorney-general or any person authorized thereto by the attorney-
general, whether in general or in any particular case, for the purposes of
such summary trial.
[Para. (c) substituted by s. 9 of Act 33 of 1986.]

(2) (a) If an accused appears in a court which does not have jurisdiction to try the
case, the accused shall at the request of the prosecutor be referred to a court having
jurisdiction.
(b) If an accused appears in a magistrate's court and the prosecutor informs the
court that he or she is of the opinion that the alleged offence is of such a nature or
magnitude that it merits punishment in excess of the jurisdiction of a magistrate's
court but not of the jurisdiction of a regional court, the court shall if so requested by
the prosecutor refer the accused to the regional court for summary trial without the
accused having to plead to the relevant charge.
[Para. (b) added by s. 3 of Act 86 of 1996.]

(3) The court before whom an accused appears for the purposes of a bail application
shall, at the conclusion of the bail proceedings or at any stage thereafter, but before
the accused has pleaded, refer such accused to a court designated by the prosecutor
for purposes of trial.
[Sub-s. (3) added by s. 8 of Act 85 of 1997.]
[S. 75 substituted by s. 3 of Act 56 of 1979.]

76 Charge-sheet and proof of record of criminal case

(1) Unless an accused has been summoned to appear before the court, the
proceedings at a summary trial in a lower court shall be commenced by lodging a
charge-sheet with the clerk of the court, and, in the case of a superior court, by
serving an indictment referred to in section 144 on the accused and the lodging thereof
with the registrar of the court concerned.

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(2) The charge-sheet shall in addition to the charge against the accused include the
name and, where known and where applicable, the address and description of the
accused with regard to sex, nationality and age.
[Sub-s. (2) substituted by s. 13 of Act 139 of 1992.]

(3) (a) The court shall keep a record of the proceedings, whether in writing or
mechanical, or shall cause such record to be kept, and the charge-sheet, summons or
indictment shall form part thereof.
(b) Such record may be proved in a court by the mere production thereof or of a
copy thereof in terms of section 235.
(c) Where the correctness of any such record is challenged, the court in which
the record is challenged may, in order to satisfy itself whether any matter was
correctly recorded or not, either orally or on affidavit hear such evidence as it may
deem necessary.

CHAPTER 13
ACCUSED: CAPACITY TO UNDERSTAND PROCEEDINGS: MENTAL ILLNESS AND
CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY (ss 77-79)

77 Capacity of accused to understand proceedings

(1) If it appears to the court at any stage of criminal proceedings that the accused
is by reason of mental illness or mental defect not capable of understanding the
proceedings so as to make a proper defence, the court shall direct that the matter be
enquired into and be reported on in accordance with the provisions of section 79.
(1A) At proceedings in terms of sections 77 (1) and 78 (2) the court may, if it is of
the opinion that substantial injustice would otherwise result, order that the accused be
provided with the services of a legal practitioner in terms of section 22 of the Legal Aid
South Africa Act, 2014.
[Sub-s. (1A) inserted by s. 3 (a) of Act 68 of 1998 and amended by s. 25 (1) of Act 39 of
2014.]

(2) If the finding contained in the relevant report is the unanimous finding of the
persons who under section 79 enquired into the mental condition of the accused and
the finding is not disputed by the prosecutor or the accused, the court may determine
the matter on such report without hearing further evidence.
(3) If the said finding is not unanimous or, if unanimous, is disputed by the
prosecutor or the accused, the court shall determine the matter after hearing evidence,
and the prosecutor and the accused may to that end present evidence to the court,
including the evidence of any person who under section 79 enquired into the mental
condition of the accused.
(4) Where the said finding is disputed, the party disputing the finding may subpoena
and cross-examine any person who under section 79 has enquired into the mental
condition of the accused.
(5) If the court finds that the accused is capable of understanding the proceedings
so as to make a proper defence, the proceedings shall be continued in the ordinary
way.
(6) (a) If the court which has jurisdiction in terms of section 75 to try the case,
finds that the accused is not capable of understanding the proceedings so as to make a
proper defence, the court may, if it is of the opinion that it is in the interests of the
accused, taking into account the nature of the accused's incapacity contemplated in
subsection (1), and unless it can be proved on a balance of probabilities that, on the
limited evidence available the accused committed the act in question, order that such
information or evidence be placed before the court as it deems fit so as to determine
whether the accused has committed the act in question and the court shall direct that
the accused-
(i) in the case of a charge of murder or culpable homicide or rape or compelled
rape as contemplated in sections 3 or 4 of the Criminal Law (Sexual

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 53 of 221

Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007, respectively, or a charge

involving serious violence or if the court considers it to be necessary in the
public interest, where the court finds that the accused has committed the
act in question, or any other offence involving serious violence, be detained
in a psychiatric hospital or a prison pending the decision of a judge in
chambers in terms of section 47 of the Mental Health Care Act, 2002; or
(ii) where the court finds that the accused has committed an offence other than
one contemplated in subparagraph (i) or that he or she has not committed
any offence-
(aa) be admitted to and detained in an institution stated in the order as
if he or she were an involuntary mental health care user
contemplated in section 37 of the Mental Health Care Act, 2002,
(bb) ......
and if the court so directs after the accused has pleaded to the charge, the accused
shall not be entitled under section 106 (4) to be acquitted or to be convicted in respect
of the charge in question.
(b) If the court makes a finding in terms of paragraph (a) after the accused has
been convicted of the offence charged but before sentence is passed, the court shall
set the conviction aside, and if the accused has pleaded guilty it shall be deemed that
he has pleaded not guilty.
[Sub-s. (6) substituted by s. 10 of Act 33 of 1986, amended by s. 9 of Act 51 of 1991, by s. 42
(a) of Act 129 of 1993, by s. 3 (b) of Act 68 of 1998 and by s. 12 of Act 55 of 2002 and
substituted by s. 68 of Act 32 of 2007.]

(7) Where a direction is issued in terms of subsection (6) or (9), the accused may at
any time thereafter, when he or she is capable of understanding the proceedings so as
to make a proper defence, be prosecuted and tried for the offence in question.
[Sub-s. (7) amended by s. 9 of Act 51 of 1991 and substituted by s. 42 (b) of Act 129 of 1993
and by s. 3 (c) of Act 68 of 1998.]

(8) (a) An accused against whom a finding is made-

(i) under subsection (5) and who is convicted;
(ii) under subsection (6) and against whom the finding is not made in
consequence of an allegation by the accused under subsection (1),
may appeal against such finding.
(b) Such an appeal shall be made in the same manner and subject to the same
conditions as an appeal against a conviction by the court for an offence.
(9) Where an appeal against a finding in terms of subsection (5) is allowed, the
court of appeal shall set aside the conviction and sentence and direct that the person
concerned be detained in accordance with the provisions of subsection (6).
[Sub-s. (9) amended by s. 9 of Act 51 of 1991 and substituted by s. 42 (c) of Act 129 of 1993
and by s. 3 (d) of Act 68 of 1998.]

(10) Where an appeal against a finding under subsection (6) is allowed, the court of
appeal shall set aside the direction issued under that subsection and remit the case to
the court which made the finding, whereupon the relevant proceedings shall be
continued in the ordinary way.

78 Mental illness or mental defect and criminal responsibility

(1) A person who commits an act or makes an omission which constitutes an
offence and who at the time of such commission or omission suffers from a mental
illness or mental defect which makes him or her incapable-
(a) of appreciating the wrongfulness of his or her act or omission; or
(b) of acting in accordance with an appreciation of the wrongfulness of his or
her act or omission,
shall not be criminally responsible for such act or omission.
[Sub-s. (1) substituted by s. 5 (a) of Act 68 of 1998.]

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 54 of 221

(1A) Every person is presumed not to suffer from a mental illness or mental defect
so as not to be criminally responsible in terms of section 78 (1), until the contrary is
proved on a balance of probabilities.
[Sub-s. (1A) inserted by s. 5 (b) of Act 68 of 1998.]

(1B) Whenever the criminal responsibility of an accused with reference to the

commission of an act or an omission which constitutes an offence is in issue, the
burden of proof with reference to the criminal responsibility of the accused shall be on
the party who raises the issue.
[Sub-s. (1B) inserted by s. 5 (b) of Act 68 of 1998.]

(2) If it is alleged at criminal proceedings that the accused is by reason of mental

illness or mental defect or for any other reason not criminally responsible for the
offence charged, or if it appears to the court at criminal proceedings that the accused
might for such a reason not be so responsible, the court shall in the case of an
allegation or appearance of mental illness or mental defect, and may, in any other
case, direct that the matter be enquired into and be reported on in accordance with the
provisions of section 79.
[Sub-s. (2) substituted by s. 5 (c) of Act 68 of 1998.]

(3) If the finding contained in the relevant report is the unanimous finding of the
persons who under section 79 enquired into the relevant mental condition of the
accused, and the finding is not disputed by the prosecutor or the accused, the court
may determine the matter on such report without hearing further evidence.
(4) If the said finding is not unanimous or, if unanimous, is disputed by the
prosecutor or the accused, the court shall determine the matter after hearing evidence,
and the prosecutor and the accused may to that end present evidence to the court,
including the evidence of any person who under section 79 enquired into the mental
condition of the accused.
(5) Where the said finding is disputed, the party disputing the finding may subpoena
and cross-examine any person who under section 79 enquired into the mental
condition of the accused.
(6) If the court finds that the accused committed the act in question and that he or
she at the time of such commission was by reason of mental illness or intellectual
disability not criminally responsible for such act-
(a) the court shall find the accused not guilty; or
(b) if the court so finds after the accused has been convicted of the offence
charged but before sentence is passed, the court shall set the conviction
aside and find the accused not guilty,
by reason of mental illness or intellectual disability, as the case may be, and direct-
(i) in a case where the accused is charged with murder or culpable homicide or
rape or compelled rape as contemplated in sections 3 or 4 of the Criminal
Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007,
respectively, or another charge involving serious violence, or if the court
considers it to be necessary in the public interest that the accused be-
(aa) detained in a psychiatric hospital or a prison pending the decision
of a judge in chambers in terms of section 47 of the Mental Health
Care Act, 2002;
(bb) admitted to and detained in an institution stated in the order and
treated as if he or she were an involuntary mental care health [sic]
user contemplated in section 37 of the Mental Health Care Act,
2002;
(cc) ......
(dd) released subject to such conditions as the court considers
appropriate; or
(ee) released unconditionally;
(ii) in any other case than a case contemplated in subparagraph (i), that the

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accused-
(aa) be admitted to and detained in an institution stated in the order
and treated as if he or she were an involuntary mental health care
user contemplated in section 37 of the Mental Health Care Act,
2002;
(bb) ......
(cc) be released subject to such conditions as the court considers
appropriate; or
(dd) be released unconditionally.
[Sub-s. (6) substituted by s. 11 of Act 33 of 1986, amended by s. 9 of Act 51 of 1991 and by
s. 43 of Act 129 of 1993 and substituted by s. 5 (d) of Act 68 of 1998, by s. 13 of Act 55 of
2002 and by s. 68 of Act 32 of 2007.]

(7) If the court finds that the accused at the time of the commission of the act in
question was criminally responsible for the act but that his capacity to appreciate the
wrongfulness of the act or to act in accordance with an appreciation of the
wrongfulness of the act was diminished by reason of mental illness or mental defect,
the court may take the fact of such diminished responsibility into account when
sentencing the accused.
(8) (a) An accused against whom a finding is made under subsection (6) may
appeal against such finding if the finding is not made in consequence of an allegation
by the accused under subsection (2).
(b) Such an appeal shall be made in the same manner and subject to the same
conditions as an appeal against a conviction by the court for an offence.
(9) Where an appeal against a finding under subsection (6) is allowed, the court of
appeal shall set aside the finding and the direction under that subsection and remit the
case to the court which made the finding, whereupon the relevant proceedings shall be
continued in the ordinary course.

79 Panel for purposes of enquiry and report under sections 77 and 78

(1) Where a court issues a direction under section 77 (1) or 78 (2), the relevant
enquiry shall be conducted and be reported on-
(a) where the accused is charged with an offence other than one referred to in
paragraph (b), by the medical superintendent of a psychiatric hospital
designated by the court, or by a psychiatrist appointed by the medical
superintendent at the request of the court; or
(b) where the accused is charged with murder or culpable homicide or rape or
compelled rape as provided for in sections 3 or 4 of the Criminal Law
(Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007, respectively,
or another charge involving serious violence, or if the court considers it to
be necessary in the public interest, or where the court in any particular
case so directs-
(i) by the medical superintendent of a psychiatric hospital designated
by the court, or by a psychiatrist appointed by the medical
superintendent at the request of the court;
(ii) by a psychiatrist appointed by the court and who is not in the full-
time service of the State unless the court directs otherwise, upon
application of the prosecutor, in accordance with directives issued
under subsection (13) by the National Director of Public
Prosecutions;
(iii) by a psychiatrist appointed for the accused by the court; and
(iv) by a clinical psychologist where the court so directs.
[Sub-s. (1) amended by s. 44 of Act 129 of 1993 and by s. 28 of Act 105 of 1997 and
substituted by s. 6 (a) of Act 68 of 1998, by s. 68 of Act 32 of 2007 and by s. 10 (a) of Act 66
of 2008.]

(1A) The prosecutor undertaking the prosecution of the accused or any other

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prosecutor attached to the same court shall provide the persons who, in terms of
subsection (1), have to conduct the enquiry and report on the accused's mental
capacity with a report in which the following are stated, namely-
(a) whether the referral is taking place in terms of section 77 or 78;
(b) at whose request or on whose initiative the referral is taking place;
(c) the nature of the charge against the accused;
(d) the stage of the proceedings at which the referral took place;
(e) the purport of any statement made by the accused before or during the
court proceedings that is relevant with regard to his or her mental condition
or mental capacity;
(f) the purport of evidence that has been given that is relevant to the accused's
mental condition or mental capacity;
(g) in so far as it is within the knowledge of the prosecutor, the accused's social
background and family composition and the names and addresses of his or
her near relatives; and
(h) any other fact that may in the opinion of the prosecutor be relevant in the
evaluation of the accused's mental condition or mental capacity.
[Sub-s. (1A) inserted by s. 6 (b) of Act 68 of 1998.]

(2) (a) The court may for the purposes of the relevant enquiry commit the accused
to a psychiatric hospital or to any other place designated by the court, for such
periods, not exceeding thirty days at a time, as the court may from time to time
determine, and where an accused is in custody when he is so committed, he shall,
while he is so committed, be deemed to be in the lawful custody of the person or the
authority in whose custody he was at the time of such committal.
(b) When the period of committal is for the first time extended under paragraph
(a), such extension may be granted in the absence of the accused unless the accused
or his legal representative requests otherwise.
[Para. (b) added by s. 4 of Act 4 of 1992.]
(c) The court may make the following orders after the enquiry referred to in
subsection (1) has been conducted-
(i) postpone the case for such periods referred to in paragraph (a), as the
court may from time to time determine;
(ii) refer the accused at the request of the prosecutor to the court referred to in
section 77 (6) which has jurisdiction to try the case;
(iii) make any other order it deems fit regarding the custody of the accused; or
(iv) any other order.
[Para. (c) added by s. 6 (c) of Act 68 of 1998.]
[Sub-s. (2) amended by s. 44 of Act 129 of 1993.]

(3) The relevant report shall be in writing and shall be submitted in triplicate to the
registrar or, as the case may be, the clerk of the court in question, who shall make a
copy thereof available to the prosecutor and the accused.
(4) The report shall-
(a) include a description of the nature of the enquiry; and
(b) include a diagnosis of the mental condition of the accused; and
(c) if the enquiry is under section 77 (1), include a finding as to whether the
accused is capable of understanding the proceedings in question so as to
make a proper defence; or
(d) if the enquiry is in terms of section 78 (2), include a finding as to the extent
to which the capacity of the accused to appreciate the wrongfulness of the
act in question or to act in accordance with an appreciation of the
wrongfulness of that act was, at the time of the commission thereof,
affected by mental illness or mental defect or by any other cause.
[Para. (d) substituted by s. 6 (d) of Act 68 of 1998.]

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(5) If the persons conducting the relevant enquiry are not unanimous in their
finding under paragraph (c) or (d) of subsection (4), such fact shall be mentioned in
the report and each of such persons shall give his finding on the matter in question.
(6) Subject to the provisions of subsection (7), the contents of the report shall be
admissible in evidence at criminal proceedings.
(7) A statement made by an accused at the relevant enquiry shall not be admissible
in evidence against the accused at criminal proceedings, except to the extent to which
it may be relevant to the determination of the mental condition of the accused, in
which event such statement shall be admissible notwithstanding that it may otherwise
be inadmissible.
(8) A psychiatrist and a clinical psychologist appointed under subsection (1), other
than a psychiatrist and a clinical psychologist appointed for the accused, shall, subject
to the provisions of subsection (10), be appointed from the list of psychiatrists and
clinical psychologists referred to in subsection (9) (a).
[Sub-s. (8) substituted by s. 8 (a) of Act 42 of 2001.]

(9) The Director-General: Health shall compile and keep a list of-
(a) psychiatrists and clinical psychologists who are prepared to conduct any
enquiry under this section; and
(b) psychiatrists who are prepared to conduct any enquiry under section 286A
(3),
and shall provide the registrars of the High Courts and all clerks of magistrate's courts
with a copy thereof.
[Sub-s. (9) substituted by s. 17 of Act 116 of 1993 and by s. 8 (b) of Act 42 of 2001.]

(10) Where the list compiled and kept under subsection (9) (a) does not include a
sufficient number of psychiatrists and clinical psychologists who may conveniently be
appointed for any enquiry under this section, a psychiatrist and clinical psychologist
may be appointed for the purposes of such enquiry notwithstanding that his or her
name does not appear on such list.
[Sub-s. (10) substituted by s. 8 (c) of Act 42 of 2001.]

(11) 11(a) A psychiatrist or clinical psychologist designated or appointed under

subsection (1) by or at the request of the court to enquire into the mental condition of
an accused and who is not in the full-time service of the State, shall be compensated
for his or her services in connection with the enquiry from public funds in accordance
with a tariff 12 determined by the Minister in consultation with the Minister of Finance.
(b) A psychiatrist appointed under subsection (1) (b) (iii) for the accused to
enquire into the mental condition of the accused and who is not in the full-time service
of the State, shall be compensated for his or her services from public funds in the
circumstances and in accordance with a tariff determined by the Minister in
consultation with the Minister of Finance.
[Sub-s. (11) substituted by s. 8 (d) of Act 42 of 2001.]

(12) For the purposes of this section a psychiatrist or a clinical psychologist means a
person registered as a psychiatrist or a clinical psychologist under the Health
Professions Act, 1974 (Act 56 of 1974).
[Sub-s. (12) substituted by s. 8 (e) of Act 42 of 2001.]

(13) (a) The National Director of Public Prosecutions must, in consultation with the
Minister, issue directives regarding the cases and circumstances in which a prosecutor
must apply to the court for the appointment of a psychiatrist as provided for in
subsection (1) (b) (ii) and any directive so issued must be observed in the application
of this section.
(b) The directives referred to in paragraph (a) must ensure that adequate
disciplinary steps will be taken against a prosecutor who fails to comply with any
directive.
(c) The Minister must submit any directives issued under this subsection to
Parliament before those directives take effect, and the first directives so issued, must

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 58 of 221

be submitted to Parliament within four months of the commencement of this

subsection.
(d) Any directive issued under this subsection may be amended or withdrawn in
like manner.
[Sub-s. (13) added by s. 10 (b) of Act 66 of 2008.]
11 Tariff of compensation to psychiatrists or clinical psychologists to enquire into the mental
condition of an accused determined - GN R393 in GG 30953 of 11 April 2008
12 Determination of tariff payable to psychiatrists or clinical psychologists for an enquiry into the
mental condition of an accused has been published under GN R393 in GG 30953 of 11 April 2008 -
see Regulations to the Act

CHAPTER 14
THE CHARGE (ss 80-104)

80 Accused may examine charge

An accused may examine the charge at any stage of the relevant criminal
proceedings.

81 Joinder of charges
(1) Any number of charges may be joined in the same proceedings against an
accused at any time before any evidence has been led in respect of any particular
charge, and where several charges are so joined, each charge shall be numbered
consecutively.
(2) (a) The court may, if in its opinion it will be in the interests of justice to do so,
direct that an accused be tried separately in respect of any charge joined with any
other charge.
(b) An order under paragraph (a) may be made before or during a trial, and the
effect thereof shall be that the charge in respect of which an accused is not then tried,
shall be proceeded with in all respects as if the accused had in respect thereof been
charged separately.

82 Several charges to be disposed of by same court

Where an accused is in the same proceedings charged with more than one offence,
and any one charge is for any reason to be disposed of by a regional court or a
superior court, all the charges shall be disposed of by the same court in the same
proceedings.

83 Charge where it is doubtful what offence committed

If by reason of any uncertainty as to the facts which can be proved or if for any
other reason it is doubtful which of several offences is constituted by the facts which
can be proved, the accused may be charged with the commission of all or any of such
offences, and any number of such charges may be tried at once, or the accused may
be charged in the alternative with the commission of any number of such offences.

84 Essentials of charge
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act and of any other law relating to any
particular offence, a charge shall set forth the relevant offence in such manner and
with such particulars as to the time and place at which the offence is alleged to have
been committed and the person, if any, against whom and the property, if any, in
respect of which the offence is alleged to have been committed, as may be reasonably
sufficient to inform the accused of the nature of the charge.
(2) Where any of the particulars referred to in subsection (1) are unknown to the
prosecutor it shall be sufficient to state that fact in the charge.

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(3) In criminal proceedings the description of any statutory offence in the words of
the law creating the offence, or in similar words, shall be sufficient.

85 Objection to charge
(1) An accused may, before pleading to the charge under section 106, object to the
charge on the ground-
(a) that the charge does not comply with the provisions of this Act relating to
the essentials of a charge;
(b) that the charge does not set out an essential element of the relevant
offence;
(c) that the charge does not disclose an offence;
(d) that the charge does not contain sufficient particulars of any matter alleged
in the charge: Provided that such an objection may not be raised to a
charge when he is required in terms of section 119 or 122A to plead thereto
in the magistrate's court; or
[Para. (d) amended by s. 14 of Act 139 of 1992.]
(e) that the accused is not correctly named or described in the charge:
Provided that the accused shall give reasonable notice to the prosecution of his
intention to object to the charge and shall state the ground upon which he bases his
objection: Provided further that the requirement of such notice may be waived by the
attorney-general or the prosecutor, as the case may be, and the court may, on good
cause shown, dispense with such notice or adjourn the trial to enable such notice to be
given.
(2) (a) If the court decides that an objection under subsection (1) is well-founded,
the court shall make such order relating to the amendment of the charge or the
delivery of particulars as it may deem fit.
(b) Where the prosecution fails to comply with an order under paragraph (a), the
court may quash the charge.

86 Court may order that charge be amended

(1) Where a charge is defective for the want of any essential averment therein, or
where there appears to be any variance between any averment in a charge and the
evidence adduced in proof of such averment, or where it appears that words or
particulars that ought to have been inserted in the charge have been omitted
therefrom, or where any words or particulars that ought to have been omitted from the
charge have been inserted therein, or where there is any other error in the charge, the
court may, at any time before judgment, if it considers that the making of the relevant
amendment will not prejudice the accused in his defence, order that the charge,
whether it discloses an offence or not, be amended, so far as it is necessary, both in
that part thereof where the defect, variance, omission, insertion or error occurs and in
any other part thereof which it may become necessary to amend.
(2) The amendment may be made on such terms as to an adjournment of the
proceedings as the court may deem fit.
(3) Upon the amendment of the charge in accordance with the order of the court,
the trial shall proceed at the appointed time upon the amended charge in the same
manner and with the same consequences as if it had been originally in its amended
form.
(4) The fact that a charge is not amended as provided in this section, shall not,
unless the court refuses to allow the amendment, affect the validity of the proceedings
thereunder.

87 Court may order delivery of particulars

(1) An accused may at any stage before any evidence in respect of any particular
charge has been led, in writing request the prosecution to furnish particulars or further

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particulars of any matter alleged in that charge, and the court before which a
charge is pending may at any time before any evidence in respect of that charge has
been led, direct that particulars or further particulars be delivered to the accused of
any matter alleged in the charge, and may, if necessary, adjourn the proceedings in
order that such particulars may be delivered: Provided that the provisions of this
subsection shall not apply at the stage when an accused is required in terms of section
119 or 122A to plead to a charge in the magistrate's court.
[Sub-s. (1) amended by s. 15 of Act 139 of 1992.]

(2) The particulars shall be delivered to the accused without charge and shall be
entered in the record, and the trial shall proceed as if the charge had been amended in
conformity with such particulars.
(3) In determining whether a particular is required or whether a defect in the
indictment before a superior court is material to the substantial justice of the case, the
court may have regard to the summary of the substantial facts under paragraph (a) of
section 144 (3) or, as the case may be, the record of the preparatory examination.

88 Defect in charge cured by evidence

Where a charge is defective for the want of an averment which is an essential
ingredient of the relevant offence, the defect shall, unless brought to the notice of the
court before judgement, be cured by evidence at the trial proving the matter which
should have been averred.

89 Previous conviction not to be alleged in charge

Except where the fact of a previous conviction is an element of any offence with
which an accused is charged, it shall not in any charge be alleged that an accused has
previously been convicted of any offence, whether in the Republic or elsewhere.

90 Charge need not specify or negative exception, exemption, proviso,

excuse or qualification
In criminal proceedings any exception, exemption, proviso, excuse or qualification,
whether it does or does not accompany in the same section the description of the
offence in the law creating the offence, may be proved by the accused but need not be
specified or negatived in the charge and, if so specified or negatived, need not be
proved by the prosecution.

91 Charge need not state manner or means of act

A charge need not set out the manner in which or the means or instrument by
which any act was done, unless the manner, means or instrument is an essential
element of the relevant offence.

92 Certain omissions or imperfections not to invalidate charge

(1) A charge shall not be held defective-
(a) for want of the averment of any matter which need not be proved;
(b) because any person mentioned in the charge is designated by a name of
office or other descriptive appellation instead of by his proper name;
(c) because of an omission, in any case where time is not of the essence of the
offence, to state the time at which the offence was committed;
(d) because the offence is stated to have been committed on a day subsequent
to the laying of the complaint or the service of the charge or on an
impossible day or on a day that never happened;
(e) for want of, or imperfection in, the addition of any accused or any other
person;
(f) for want of the statement of the value or price of any matter or thing, or the
amount of damage, injury or spoil in any case where the value or price or

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the amount of damage, injury or spoil is not of the essence of the offence.
(2) If any particular day or period is alleged in any charge to be the day on which or
the period during which any act or offence was committed, proof that such act or
offence was committed on any other day or during any other period not more than
three months before or after the day or period alleged therein shall be taken to
support such allegation if time is not of the essence of the offence: Provided that-
(a) proof may be given that the act or offence in question was committed on a
day or during a period more than three months before or after the day or
period stated in the charge unless it is made to appear to the court before
which the proceedings are pending that the accused is likely to be
prejudiced thereby in his defence on the merits;
(b) if the court considers that the accused is likely to be prejudiced thereby in
his defence on the merits, it shall reject such proof, and the accused shall
be deemed not to have pleaded to the charge.

93 Alibi and date of act or offence

If the defence of an accused is an alibi and the court before which the proceedings
are pending is of the opinion that the accused may be prejudiced in making such
defence if proof is admitted that the act or offence in question was committed on a day
or at a time other than the day or time stated in the charge, the court shall reject such
proof notwithstanding that the day or time in question is within a period of three
months before or after the day or time stated in the charge, whereupon the same
consequences shall follow as are mentioned in proviso (b) of section 92 (2).

94 Charge may allege commission of offence on divers occasions

Where it is alleged that an accused on divers occasions during any period committed
an offence in respect of any particular person, the accused may be charged in one
charge with the commission of that offence on divers occasions during a stated period.

95 Rules applicable to particular charges

(1) A charge relating to a testamentary instrument need not allege that the
instrument is the property of any person.
(2) A charge relating to anything fixed in a square, street or open place or in a place
dedicated to public use or ornament, or relating to anything in a public place or office
or taken therefrom, need not allege that the thing in question is the property of any
person.
(3) A charge relating to a document which is the evidence of title to land or of an
interest in land may describe the document as being the evidence of the title of the
person or of one of the persons having an interest in the land to which the document
relates, and shall describe the land or any relevant part thereof in a manner sufficient
to identify it.
(4) A charge relating to the theft of anything leased to the accused may describe
the thing in question as the property of the person who leased it to the accused.
(5) A charge against a person in the public service for an offence committed in
connection with anything which came into his possession by virtue of his employment
may describe the thing in question as the property of the State.
(6) A charge relating to anything in the possession or under the control of any
public officer may describe the thing in question as being in the lawful possession or
under the lawful control of such officer without referring to him by name.
(7) A charge relating to movable or immovable property whereof any body
corporate has by law the management, control or custody, may describe the property
in question as being under the lawful management or control or in the lawful custody
of the body corporate in question.

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(8) If it is uncertain to which of two or more persons property in connection with

which an offence has been committed belonged at the time when the offence was
committed, the relevant charge may describe the property as the property of one or
other of those persons, naming each of them but without specifying which of them,
and it shall be sufficient at the trial to prove that at the time when the offence was
committed the property belonged to one or other of those persons without proving
which of them.
(9) If property alleged to have been stolen was not in the physical possession of the
owner thereof at the time when the theft was committed but in the physical possession
of another person who had the custody thereof on behalf of the owner, it shall be
sufficient to allege in a charge for the theft of that property that it was in the lawful
custody or under the lawful control of that other person.
(10) A charge relating to theft from any grave need not allege that anything in the
grave is the property of any person.
(11) In a charge in which any trade mark or forged trade mark is proposed to be
mentioned, it shall be sufficient, without further description and without any copy or
facsimile, to state that such trade mark or forged trade mark is a trade mark or forged
trade mark.
(12) A charge relating to housebreaking or the entering of any house or premises
with intent to commit an offence, whether the charge is brought under the common
law or any statute, may state either that the accused intended to commit a specified
offence or that the accused intended to commit an offence to the prosecutor unknown.

96 Naming of company, firm or partnership in charge

A reference in a charge to a company, firm or partnership shall be sufficient if the
reference is to the name of the company, firm or partnership.

97 Naming of joint owners of property in charge

A reference in a charge to joint owners of property shall be sufficient if the
reference is to one specific owner and another owner or, as the case may be, other
owners.

98 Charge of murder or culpable homicide sufficient if it alleges fact of killing

It shall be sufficient in a charge of murder to allege that the accused unlawfully and
intentionally killed the deceased, and it shall be sufficient in a charge of culpable
homicide to allege that the accused unlawfully killed the deceased.

99 Charge relating to document sufficient if it refers to document by name

(1) In any charge relating to the forging, uttering, stealing, destroying or concealing
of, or to some other unlawful dealing with any document, it shall be sufficient to
describe the document by any name or designation by which it is usually known or by
the purport thereof, without setting out any copy or facsimile thereof or otherwise
describing it or stating its value.
(2) Whenever it is necessary in any case not referred to in subsection (1) to make
any allegation in any charge in relation to any document, whether it consists wholly or
in part of writing, print or figures, it shall be sufficient to describe the document by any
name or designation by which it is usually known or by the purport thereof, without
setting out any copy or facsimile of the whole or any part thereof, unless the wording
of the document is an element of the offence.

100 Charge alleging theft may allege general deficiency

On a charge alleging the theft of money or property by a person entrusted with the
control thereof, the charge may allege a general deficiency in a stated amount,
notwithstanding that such general deficiency is made up of specific sums of money or

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articles or of a sum of money representing the value of specific articles, the theft of
which extended over a period.

101 Charge relating to false evidence

(1) A charge relating to the administering or making of an affirmation or the giving
of false evidence or the making of a false statement or the procuring of false evidence
or a false statement-
(a) need not set forth the words of the oath or the affirmation or the evidence
or the statement, if it sets forth so much of the purport thereof as is
material;
(b) need not allege, nor need it be established at the trial, that the false
evidence or statement was material to any issue at the relevant
proceedings or that it was to the prejudice of any person.
(2) A charge relating to the giving or the procuring or attempted procuring of false
evidence need not allege the jurisdiction or state the nature of the authority of the
court or tribunal before which or the officer before whom the false evidence was given
or was intended or proposed to be given.

102 Charge relating to insolvency

A charge relating to insolvency need not set forth any debt, act of insolvency or
adjudication or any other proceeding in any court, or any order made or any warrant
or document issued by or under the authority of any court.

103 Charge alleging intent to defraud need not allege or prove such intent in
respect of particular person or mention owner of property or set forth details
of deceit
In any charge in which it is necessary to allege that the accused performed an act
with an intent to defraud, it shall be sufficient to allege and to prove that the accused
performed the act with intent to defraud without alleging and proving that it was the
intention of the accused to defraud any particular person, and such a charge need not
mention the owner of any property involved or set forth the details of any deceit.

104 Reference in charge to objectionable matter not necessary

A charge of printing, publishing, manufacturing, making or producing blasphemous,
seditious, obscene or defamatory matter, or of distributing, displaying, exhibiting,
selling or offering or keeping for sale any obscene book, pamphlet, newspaper or other
printed or written matter, shall not be open to objection or be deemed insufficient on
the ground that it does not set out the words thereof: Provided that the court may
order that particulars shall be furnished by the prosecution stating what passages in
such book, pamphlet, newspaper, printing or writing are relied upon in support of the
charge.

CHAPTER 15
THE PLEA (ss 105-109)

105 Accused to plead to charge

The charge shall be put to the accused by the prosecutor before the trial of the
accused is commenced, and the accused shall, subject to the provisions of sections 77,
85 and 105A, be required by the court forthwith to plead thereto in accordance with
section 106.
[S. 105 substituted by s. 1 of Act 62 of 2001.]

105A Plea and sentence agreements

(1) (a) A prosecutor authorised thereto in writing by the National Director of Public
Prosecutions and an accused who is legally represented may, before the accused

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pleads to the charge brought against him or her, negotiate and enter into an
agreement in respect of-
(i) a plea of guilty by the accused to the offence charged or to an offence of
which he or she may be convicted on the charge; and
(ii) if the accused is convicted of the offence to which he or she has agreed to
plead guilty-
(aa) a just sentence to be imposed by the court; or
(bb) the postponement of the passing of sentence in terms of section
297 (1) (a); or
(cc) a just sentence to be imposed by the court, of which the operation
of the whole or any part thereof is to be suspended in terms of
section 297 (1) (b); and
(dd) if applicable, an award for compensation as contemplated in section
300.
(b) The prosecutor may enter into an agreement contemplated in paragraph (a)-
(i) after consultation with the person charged with the investigation of the
case;
(ii) with due regard to, at least, the-
(aa) nature of and circumstances relating to the offence;
(bb) personal circumstances of the accused;
(cc) previous convictions of the accused, if any; and
(dd) interests of the community, and
(iii) after affording the complainant or his or her representative, where it is
reasonable to do so and taking into account the nature of and
circumstances relating to the offence and the interests of the complainant,
the opportunity to make representations to the prosecutor regarding-
(aa) the contents of the agreement; and
(bb) the inclusion in the agreement of a condition relating to
compensation or the rendering to the complainant of some specific
benefit or service in lieu of compensation for damage or pecuniary
loss.
(c) The requirements of paragraph (b) (i) may be dispensed with if the
prosecutor is satisfied that consultation with the person charged with the investigation
of the case will delay the proceedings to such an extent that it could-
(i) cause substantial prejudice to the prosecution, the accused, the
complainant or his or her representative; and
(ii) affect the administration of justice adversely.
(2) An agreement contemplated in subsection (1) shall be in writing and shall at
least-
(a) state that the accused, before entering into the agreement, has been
informed that he or she has the right-
(i)to be presumed innocent until proved guilty beyond reasonable
doubt;
(ii) to remain silent and not to testify during the proceedings; and
(iii) not to be compelled to give self-incriminating evidence;
(b) state fully the terms of the agreement, the substantial facts of the matter,
all other facts relevant to the sentence agreement and any admissions
made by the accused;
(c) be signed by the prosecutor, the accused and his or her legal
representative; and
(d) if the accused has negotiated with the prosecutor through an interpreter,
contain a certificate by the interpreter to the effect that he or she

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interpreted accurately during the negotiations and in respect of the contents of the
agreement.
(3) The court shall not participate in the negotiations contemplated in subsection
(1).
(4) (a) The prosecutor shall, before the accused is required to plead, inform the
court that an agreement contemplated in subsection (1) has been entered into and the
court shall then-
(i) require the accused to confirm that such an agreement has been entered
into; and
(ii) satisfy itself that the requirements of subsection (1) (b) (i) and (iii) have
been complied with.
(b) If the court is not satisfied that the agreement complies with the
requirements of subsection (1) (b) (i) and (iii), the court shall-
(i) inform the prosecutor and the accused of the reasons for non-compliance;
and
(ii) afford the prosecutor and the accused the opportunity to comply with the
requirements concerned.
(5) If the court is satisfied that the agreement complies with the requirements of
subsection (1) (b) (i) and (iii), the court shall require the accused to plead to the
charge and order that the contents of the agreement be disclosed in court.
(6) (a) After the contents of the agreement have been disclosed, the court shall
question the accused to ascertain whether-
(i) he or she confirms the terms of the agreement and the admissions made by
him or her in the agreement;
(ii) with reference to the alleged facts of the case, he or she admits the
allegations in the charge to which he or she has agreed to plead guilty; and
(iii) the agreement was entered into freely and voluntarily in his or her sound
and sober senses and without having been unduly influenced.
(b) After an inquiry has been conducted in terms of paragraph (a), the court
shall, if-
(i) the court is not satisfied that the accused is guilty of the offence in respect
of which the agreement was entered into; or
(ii) it appears to the court that the accused does not admit an allegation in the
charge or that the accused has incorrectly admitted any such allegation or
that the accused has a valid defence to the charge; or
(iii) for any other reason, the court is of the opinion that the plea of guilty by
the accused should not stand,
record a plea of not guilty and inform the prosecutor and the accused of the reasons
therefor.
(c) If the court has recorded a plea of not guilty, the trial shall start de novo
before another presiding officer: Provided that the accused may waive his or her right
to be tried before another presiding officer.
(7) (a) If the court is satisfied that the accused admits the allegations in the charge
and that he or she is guilty of the offence in respect of which the agreement was
entered into, the court shall proceed to consider the sentence agreement.
(b) For purposes of paragraph (a), the court-
(i) may-
(aa) direct relevant questions, including questions about the previous
convictions of the accused, to the prosecutor and the accused; and
(bb) hear evidence, including evidence or a statement by or on behalf of
the accused or the complainant; and
(ii) must, if the offence concerned is an offence-

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(aa) referred to in the Schedule to the Criminal Law Amendment Act,

1997 (Act 105 of 1997); or
(bb) for which a minimum penalty is prescribed in the law creating the
offence,
have due regard to the provisions of that Act or law.
(8) If the court is satisfied that the sentence agreement is just, the court shall
inform the prosecutor and the accused that the court is so satisfied, whereupon the
court shall convict the accused of the offence charged and sentence the accused in
accordance with the sentence agreement.
(9) (a) If the court is of the opinion that the sentence agreement is unjust, the
court shall inform the prosecutor and the accused of the sentence which it considers
just.
(b) Upon being informed of the sentence which the court considers just, the
prosecutor and the accused may-
(i) abide by the agreement with reference to the charge and inform the court
that, subject to the right to lead evidence and to present argument relevant
to sentencing, the court may proceed with the imposition of sentence; or
(ii) withdraw from the agreement.
(c) If the prosecutor and the accused abide by the agreement as contemplated in
paragraph (b) (i), the court shall convict the accused of the offence charged and
impose the sentence which it considers just.
(d) If the prosecutor or the accused withdraws from the agreement as
contemplated in paragraph (b) (ii), the trial shall start de novo before another
presiding officer: Provided that the accused may waive his or her right to be tried
before another presiding officer.
(10) Where a trial starts de novo as contemplated in subsection (6) (c) or (9) (d)-
(a) the agreement shall be null and void and no regard shall be had or
reference made to-
(i) any negotiations which preceded the entering into the agreement;
(ii) the agreement; or
(iii) any record of the agreement in any proceedings relating thereto,
unless the accused consents to the recording of all or certain admissions
made by him or her in the agreement or during any proceedings relating
thereto and any admission so recorded shall stand as proof of such
admission;
(b) the prosecutor and the accused may not enter into a plea and sentence
agreement in respect of a charge arising out of the same facts; and
(c) the prosecutor may proceed on any charge.
(11) (a) The National Director of Public Prosecutions, in consultation with the
Minister, shall issue directives regarding all matters which are reasonably necessary or
expedient to be prescribed in order to achieve the objects of this section and any
directive so issued shall be observed in the application of this section.
(b) The directives contemplated in paragraph (a)-
(i) must prescribe the procedures to be followed in the application of this
section relating to-
(aa) any offence referred to in the Schedule to the Criminal Law
Amendment Act, 1997, or any other offence for which a minimum
penalty is prescribed in the law creating the offence;
(bb) any offence in respect of which a court has the power or is required
to conduct a specific enquiry, whether before or after convicting or
sentencing the accused; and
(cc) any offence in respect of which a court has the power or is required

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 67 of 221

to make a specific order upon conviction of the accused;

(ii) may prescribe the procedures to be followed in the application of this
section relating to any other offence in respect of which the National
Director of Public Prosecutions deems it necessary or expedient to prescribe
specific procedures;
(iii) must ensure that adequate disciplinary steps shall be taken against a
prosecutor who fails to comply with any directive; and
(iv) must ensure that comprehensive records and statistics relating to the
implementation and application of this section are kept by the prosecuting
authority.
(c) The National Director of Public Prosecutions shall submit directives issued
under this subsection to Parliament before those directives take effect, and the first
directives so issued, must be submitted to Parliament within four months of the
commencement of this section.
(d) Any directive issued under this subsection may be amended or withdrawn in
like manner.
(12) The National Director of Public Prosecutions shall at least once every year
submit the records and statistics referred to in subsection (11) (b) (iv) to Parliament.
(13) In this section 'sentence agreement' means an agreement contemplated in
subsection (1) (a) (ii).
[S. 105A inserted by s. 2 of Act 62 of 2001.]

106 Pleas
(1) When an accused pleads to a charge he may plead-
(a) that he is guilty of the offence charged or of any offence of which he may
be convicted on the charge; or
(b) that he is not guilty; or
(c) that he has already been convicted of the offence with which he is charged;
or
(d) that he has already been acquitted of the offence with which he is charged;
or
(e) that he has received a free pardon under section 327 (6) from the State
President for the offence charged; or
(f) that the court has no jurisdiction to try the offence; or
(g) that he has been discharged under the provisions of section 204 from
prosecution for the offence charged; or
(h) that the prosecutor has no title to prosecute.
(i) that the prosecution may not be resumed or instituted owing to an order by
a court under section 342A (3) (c).
[Para. (i) added by s. 4 of Act 86 of 1996.]

(2) Two or more pleas may be pleaded together except that a plea of guilty may not
be pleaded with any other plea to the same charge.
(3) An accused shall give reasonable notice to the prosecution of his intention to
plead a plea other than the plea of guilty or not guilty, and shall in such notice state
the ground on which he bases his plea: Provided that the requirement of such notice
may be waived by the attorney-general or the prosecutor, as the case may be, and the
court may, on good cause shown, dispense with such notice or adjourn the trial to
enable such notice to be given.
(4) An accused who pleads to a charge, other than a plea that the court has no
jurisdiction to try the offence, or an accused on behalf of whom a plea of not guilty is
entered by the court, shall, save as is otherwise expressly provided by this Act or any
other law, be entitled to demand that he be acquitted or be convicted.

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 68 of 221

107 Truth and publication for public benefit of defamatory matter to be

specially pleaded
A person charged with the unlawful publication of defamatory matter, who sets up
as a defence that the defamatory matter is true and that it was for the public benefit
that the matter should be published, shall plead such defence specially, and may plead
it with any other plea except the plea of guilty.

108 Issues raised by plea to be tried

If an accused pleads a plea other than a plea of guilty, he shall, subject to the
provisions of sections 115, 122 and 141 (3), by such plea be deemed to demand that
the issues raised by the plea be tried.

109 Accused refusing to plead

Where an accused in criminal proceedings refuses to plead to any charge, the court
shall record a plea of not guilty on behalf of the accused and a plea so recorded shall
have the same effect as if it had been actually pleaded.

CHAPTER 16
JURISDICTION (ss 110-111)

110 Accused brought before court which has no jurisdiction

(1) Where an accused does not plead that the court has no jurisdiction and it at any
stage-
(a) after the accused has pleaded a plea of guilty or of not guilty; or
(b) where the accused has pleaded any other plea and the court has
determined such plea against the accused,
appears that the court in question does not have jurisdiction, the court shall for the
purposes of this Act be deemed to have jurisdiction in respect of the offence in
question.
(2) Where an accused pleads that the court in question has no jurisdiction and the
plea is upheld, the court shall adjourn the case to the court having jurisdiction.

110A Jurisdiction in respect of offences committed by certain persons outside

Republic
(1) Notwithstanding any other law, any South African citizen who commits an
offence outside the area of jurisdiction of the courts of the Republic and who cannot be
prosecuted by the courts of the country in which the offence was committed, due to
the fact that the person is immune from prosecution as a result of the operation of the
provisions of-
(a) the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations,
1946;
(b) the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialised
Agencies, 1947;
(c) the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961;
(d) the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1963; or
(e) any other international convention, treaty or any agreement between the
Republic and any other country or international organisation,
and that person is found within the area of jurisdiction of any court in the Republic
which would have had jurisdiction to try the offence if it had been committed within its
area of jurisdiction, that court shall, subject to subsection (2), have jurisdiction to try
that offence.
(2) No prosecution may be instituted against a person under subsection (1), unless-

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 69 of 221

(a) the offence is an offence under the laws of the Republic; and
(b) the National Director of Public Prosecutions instructs that a prosecution be
instituted against the person.
(3) At the conclusion of the trial against a person under this section, a copy of the
proceedings, certified by the clerk of the court or registrar, together with any remarks
as the prosecutor may wish to append thereto, must be submitted to the Minister of
Foreign Affairs.
[S. 110A inserted by s. 11 of Act 66 of 2008.]

111 Minister may remove trial to jurisdiction of another attorney-general

(1) ......
[Sub-s. (1) substituted by s. 6 (a) of Act 26 of 1987 and deleted by s. 44 of Act 32 of 1998.]

(1) (a) The direction of the National Director of Public Prosecutions contemplated in
section 179 (1) (a) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, shall state
the name of the accused, the relevant offence, the place at which (if known) and the
Director in whose area of jurisdiction the relevant investigation and criminal
proceedings shall be conducted and commenced.
(b) A copy of the direction shall be served on the accused, and the original
thereof shall, save as is provided in subsection (3) be handed in at the court in which
the proceedings are to commence.
[Sub-s. (1), previously sub-s. (2), amended by s. 6 (b) of Act 26 of 1987 and renumbered and
substituted by s. 44 of Act 32 of 1998.]

(2) The court in which the proceedings commence shall have jurisdiction to act with
regard to the offence in question as if the offence had been committed within the area
of jurisdiction of such court.
[Sub-s. (2), previously sub-s. (3), renumbered and substituted by s. 44 of Act 32 of 1998.]

(3) Where the National Director issues a direction contemplated in subsection (1)
after an accused has already appeared in a court, the original of such direction shall be
handed in at the relevant proceedings and attached to the record of the proceedings,
and the court in question shall-
(a) cause the accused to be brought before it, and when the accused is before
it, adjourn the proceedings to a time and a date and to the court
designated by the Director in whose area of jurisdiction the said criminal
proceedings shall commence, whereupon such time and date and court
shall be deemed to be the time and date and court appointed for the trial of
the accused or to which the proceedings pending against the accused are
adjourned;
(b) forward a copy of the record of the proceedings to the court in which the
accused is to appear, and that court shall receive such copy and continue
with the proceedings against the accused as if such proceedings had
commenced before it.
[Sub-s. (3), previously sub-s. (4), amended by s. 6 (c) of Act 26 of 1987 and renumbered and
substituted by s. 44 of Act 32 of 1998.]

(4) ......
[Sub-s. (4) omitted by s. 44 of Act 32 of 1998.]

(5) ......
[Sub-s. (5) deleted by s. 68 of Act 88 of 1996.]

CHAPTER 17
PLEA OF GUILTY AT SUMMARY TRIAL (ss 112-114)

112 Plea of guilty

(1) Where an accused at a summary trial in any court pleads guilty to the offence
charged, or to an offence of which he may be convicted on the charge and the
prosecutor accepts that plea-

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(a) the presiding judge, regional magistrate or magistrate may, if he or she is

of the opinion that the offence does not merit punishment of imprisonment
or any other form of detention without the option of a fine or of a fine
exceeding the amount 13 determined by the Minister from time to time by
notice in the Gazette, convict the accused in respect of the offence to which
he or she has pleaded guilty on his or her plea of guilty only and-
(i) impose any competent sentence, other than imprisonment or any
other form of detention without the option of a fine or a fine
exceeding the amount determined by the Minister from time to
time by notice in the Gazette; or
(ii) deal with the accused otherwise in accordance with law;
[Para. (a) substituted by s. 4 (a) of Act 109 of 1984, by s. 7 (a) of Act 5 of 1991 and by s. 2 of
Act 33 of 1997.]
(b) the presiding judge, regional magistrate or magistrate shall, if he or she is
of the opinion that the offence merits punishment of imprisonment or any
other form of detention without the option of a fine or of a fine exceeding
the amount 14 determined by the Minister from time to time by notice in the
Gazette, or if requested thereto by the prosecutor, question the accused
with reference to the alleged facts of the case in order to ascertain whether
he or she admits the allegations in the charge to which he or she has
pleaded guilty, and may, if satisfied that the accused is guilty of the offence
to which he or she has pleaded guilty, convict the accused on his or her
plea of guilty of that offence and impose any competent sentence.
[Para. (b) amended by s. 4 (b) of Act 109 of 1984 and substituted by s. 7 (b) of Act 5 of 1991
and by s. 2 of Act 33 of 1997.]

(2) If an accused or his legal adviser hands a written statement by the accused into
court, in which the accused sets out the facts which he admits and on which he has
pleaded guilty, the court may, in lieu of questioning the accused under subsection (1)
(b), convict the accused on the strength of such statement and sentence him as
provided in the said subsection if the court is satisfied that the accused is guilty of the
offence to which he has pleaded guilty: Provided that the court may in its discretion
put any question to the accused in order to clarify any matter raised in the statement.
(3) Nothing in this section shall prevent the prosecutor from presenting evidence on
any aspect of the charge, or the court from hearing evidence, including evidence or a
statement by or on behalf of the accused, with regard to sentence, or from questioning
the accused on any aspect of the case for the purposes of determining an appropriate
sentence.
13 R5 000 - GN R62 in GG 36111 of 30 January 2013
14 R5 000 - GN R62 in GG 36111 of 30 January 2013

113 Correction of plea of guilty

(1) If the court at any stage of the proceedings under section 112 (1) (a) or (b) or
112 (2) and before sentence is passed is in doubt whether the accused is in law guilty
of the offence to which he or she has pleaded guilty or if it is alleged or appears to the
court that the accused does not admit an allegation in the charge or that the accused
has incorrectly admitted any such allegation or that the accused has a valid defence to
the charge or if the court is of the opinion for any other reason that the accused's plea
of guilty should not stand, the court shall record a plea of not guilty and require the
prosecutor to proceed with the prosecution: Provided that any allegation, other than an
allegation referred to above, admitted by the accused up to the stage at which the
court records a plea of not guilty, shall stand as proof in any court of such allegation.
[Sub-s. (1) amended by s. 5 of Act 86 of 1996.]

(2) If the court records a plea of not guilty under subsection (1) before any
evidence has been led, the prosecution shall proceed on the original charge laid

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against the accused, unless the prosecutor explicitly indicates otherwise.

[Sub-s. (2) added by s. 8 of Act 5 of 1991.]

114 Committal by magistrate's court of accused for sentence by regional

court after plea of guilty
(1) If a magistrate's court, after conviction following on a plea of guilty but before
sentence, is of the opinion-
(a) that the offence in respect of which the accused has been convicted is of
such a nature or magnitude that it merits punishment in excess of the
jurisdiction of a magistrate's court;
(b) that the previous convictions of the accused are such that the offence in
respect of which the accused has been convicted merits punishment in
excess of the jurisdiction of a magistrate's court; or
(c) that the accused is a person referred to in section 286A (1),
[Para. (c) added by s. 18 (b) of Act 116 of 1993.]

the court shall stop the proceedings and commit the accused for sentence by a
regional court having jurisdiction.
(2) Where an accused is committed under subsection (1) for sentence by a regional
court, the record of the proceedings in the magistrate's court shall upon proof thereof
in the regional court be received by the regional court and form part of the record of
that court, and the plea of guilty and any admission by the accused shall stand unless
the accused satisfies the court that such plea or such admission was incorrectly
recorded.
(3) (a) Unless the regional court concerned-
(i) is satisfied that a plea of guilty or an admission by the accused which is
material to his guilt was incorrectly recorded; or
(ii) is not satisfied that the accused is guilty of the offence of which he has
been convicted and in respect of which he has been committed for
sentence,
the court shall make a formal finding of guilty and sentence the accused.
(b) If the court is satisfied that a plea of guilty or any admission by the accused
which is material to his guilt was incorrectly recorded, or if the court is not satisfied
that the accused is guilty of the offence of which he has been convicted and in respect
of which he has been committed for sentence or that he has no valid defence to the
charge, the court shall enter a plea of not guilty and proceed with the trial as a
summary trial in that court: Provided that any admission by the accused the recording
of which is not disputed by the accused, shall stand as proof of the fact thus admitted.
(4) The provisions of section 112 (3) shall apply with reference to the proceedings
under this section.

CHAPTER 18
PLEA OF NOT GUILTY AT SUMMARY TRIAL (ss 115-118)

115 Plea of not guilty and procedure with regard to issues

(1) Where an accused at a summary trial pleads not guilty to the offence charged,
the presiding judge, regional magistrate or magistrate, as the case may be, may ask
him whether he wishes to make a statement indicating the basis of his defence.
(2) (a) Where the accused does not make a statement under subsection (1) or does
so and it is not clear from the statement to what extent he denies or admits the issues
raised by the plea, the court may question the accused in order to establish which
allegations in the charge are in dispute.
(b) The court may in its discretion put any question to the accused in order to
clarify any matter raised under subsection (1) or this subsection, and shall enquire
from the accused whether an allegation which is not placed in issue by the plea of not

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guilty, may be recorded as an admission by the accused of that allegation, and if

the accused so consents, such admission shall be recorded and shall be deemed to be
an admission under section 220.
(3) Where the legal adviser of an accused on behalf of the accused replies, whether
in writing or orally, to any question by the court under this section, the accused shall
be required by the court to declare whether he confirms such reply or not.

115A Committal of accused for trial by regional court

(1) Where an accused pleads not guilty in a magistrate's court, the court shall,
subject to the provisions of section 115, at the request of the prosecutor made before
any evidence is tendered, refer the accused for trial to a regional court having
jurisdiction.
(2) The record of the proceedings in the magistrate's court shall upon proof thereof
in the regional court be received by the regional court and form part of the record of
that court.
[S. 115A inserted by s. 4 of Act 56 of 1979.]

116 Committal of accused for sentence by regional court after trial in

magistrate's court
(1) If a magistrate's court, after conviction following on a plea of not guilty but
before sentence, is of the opinion-
(a) that the offence in respect of which the accused has been convicted is of
such a nature or magnitude that it merits punishment in excess of the
jurisdiction of a magistrate's court;
(b) that the previous convictions of the accused are such that the offence in
respect of which the accused has been convicted merits punishment in
excess of the jurisdiction of a magistrate's court; or
(c) that the accused is a person referred to in section 286A (1),
[Para. (c) added by s. 19 (b) of Act 116 of 1993.]

the court shall stop the proceedings and commit the accused for sentence by a
regional court having jurisdiction.
(2) The record of the proceedings in the magistrate's court shall upon proof thereof
in the regional court be received by the regional court and form part of the record of
that court.
(3) (a) The regional court shall, after considering the record of the proceedings in
the magistrate's court, sentence the accused, and the judgment of the magistrate's
court shall stand for this purpose and be sufficient for the regional court to pass any
competent sentence: Provided that if the regional magistrate is of the opinion that the
proceedings are not in accordance with justice or that doubt exists whether the
proceedings are in accordance with justice he or she may request the presiding officer
in the magistrate's court to provide him or her with the reasons for the conviction and
if, after considering such reasons, the regional magistrate is satisfied that the
proceedings are in accordance with justice he or she may sentence the accused, but if
he or she remains of the opinion that the proceedings are not in accordance with
justice or that doubt exists whether the proceedings are in accordance with justice he
or she shall, without sentencing the accused, record the reasons for his or her opinion
and transmit such reasons and the reasons of the presiding officer of the magistrate's
court, together with the record of the proceedings in the magistrate's court, to the
registrar of the provincial division having jurisdiction, and such registrar shall, as soon
as possible, lay the same in chambers before a judge who shall have the same powers
in respect of such proceedings as if the record thereof had been laid before him or her
under section 303.
[Para. (a) amended by s. 6 of Act 86 of 1996.]
(b) If a regional magistrate acts under the proviso to paragraph (a), he shall
inform the accused accordingly and postpone the case to some future date pending the

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outcome of the review proceedings, and, if the accused is in custody, the regional
magistrate may make such order with regard to the detention or release of the
accused as he may deem fit.

117 Committal to superior court in special case

Where an accused in a lower court pleads not guilty to the offence charged against
him and a ground of his defence is the alleged invalidity of a provincial ordinance or a
proclamation of the State President on which the charge against him is founded and
upon the validity of which a magistrate's court is in terms of section 110 of the
Magistrates' Courts Act, 1944 (Act 32 of 1944), not competent to pronounce, the
accused shall be committed for a summary trial before a superior court having
jurisdiction.
[S. 117 amended by s. 1 of Act 49 of 1996.]

118 Non-availability of judicial officer after plea of not guilty

If the judge, regional magistrate or magistrate before whom an accused at a
summary trial has pleaded not guilty is for any reason not available to continue with
the trial and no evidence has been adduced yet, the trial may be continued before any
other judge, regional magistrate or magistrate of the same court.

CHAPTER 19
PLEA IN MAGISTRATE'S COURT ON CHARGE JUSTICIABLE IN SUPERIOR
COURT (ss 119-122)

119 Accused to plead in magistrate's court on instructions of attorney-

general
When an accused appears in a magistrate's court and the alleged offence may be
tried by a superior court only or is of such a nature or magnitude that it merits
punishment in excess of the jurisdiction of a magistrate's court, the prosecutor may,
notwithstanding the provisions of section 75, on the instructions of the attorney-
general, whether in general or in any particular case, put the charge, as well as any
other charge which shall, in terms of section 82, be disposed of in a superior court, to
the accused in the magistrate's court, and the accused shall, subject to the provisions
of sections 77 and 85, be required by the magistrate to plead thereto forthwith.
[S. 119 substituted by s. 5 of Act 56 of 1979, by s. 3 of Act 64 of 1982 and by s. 16 of Act 59
of 1983.]

120 Charge-sheet and proof of record

The proceedings shall be commenced by the lodging of a charge-sheet with the
clerk of the court in question and the provisions of subsections (2) and (3) of section
76 shall mutatis mutandis apply with reference to the charge-sheet and the record of
the proceedings.

121 Plea of guilty

(1) Where an accused under section 119 pleads guilty to the offence charged, the
presiding magistrate shall question him in terms of the provisions of paragraph (b) of
section 112 (1).
(2) (a) If the magistrate is satisfied that the accused admits the allegations stated
in the charge, he shall stop the proceedings.
(b) If the magistrate is not satisfied as provided in paragraph (a), he shall record
in what respect he is not so satisfied and enter a plea of not guilty and deal with the
matter in terms of section 122 (1): Provided that an allegation with reference to which
the magistrate is so satisfied and which has been recorded as an admission, shall
stand at the trial of the accused as proof of such allegation.
(3) If the magistrate is satisfied as provided in subsection (2) (a), he shall adjourn
the proceedings pending the decision of the attorney-general, who may-

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(a) arraign the accused for sentence before a superior court or any other court
having jurisdiction, including the magistrate's court in which the
proceedings were stopped under subsection (2) (a);
(b) decline to arraign the accused for sentence before any court but arraign him
for trial on any charge at a summary trial before a superior court or any
other court having jurisdiction, including the magistrate's court in which the
proceedings were stopped under subsection (2) (a);
(c) institute a preparatory examination against the accused.
[Sub-s. (3) substituted by s. 6 of Act 56 of 1979.]

(4) The magistrate or any other magistrate of the magistrate's court concerned shall
advise the accused of the decision of the attorney-general and, if the decision is that
the accused be arraigned for sentence-
(a) in the magistrate's court concerned, dispose of the case on the charge on
which the accused is arraigned; or
(b) in a regional court or superior court, adjourn the case for sentence by the
regional court or superior court concerned.
(5) (a) The record of the proceedings in the magistrate's court shall, upon proof
thereof in the court in which the accused is arraigned for sentence, be received as part
of the record of that court against the accused or, if the accused is arraigned in the
magistrate's court in which the proceedings were stopped under subsection (2) (a), the
record of such proceedings shall stand as the record of that court, and the plea of
guilty and any admission by the accused shall stand and form part of the record of that
court unless the accused satisfies the court that such plea or such admission was
incorrectly recorded.
(aA) The record of the proceedings in the magistrate's court shall, upon proof
thereof in the court in which the accused is arraigned for a summary trial, be received
as part of the record of that court against the accused, and any admission by the
accused shall stand and form part of the record of that court against the accused, and
any admission by the accused shall stand and form part of the record of that court
unless the accused satisfies the court that such admission was incorrectly recorded.
[Para. (aA) inserted by s. 17 of Act 59 of 1983.]
(b) Unless the accused satisfies the court that a plea of guilty or an admission
was incorrectly recorded or unless the court is not satisfied that the accused is guilty of
the offence to which he has pleaded guilty or that the accused has no valid defence to
the charge, the court may convict the accused on his plea of guilty of the offence to
which he has pleaded guilty and impose any competent sentence.
[Para. (b) amended by s. 29 of Act 105 of 1997.]

(6) If the accused satisfies the court that the plea of guilty or an admission which is
material to his guilt was incorrectly recorded, or if the court is not satisfied that the
accused is guilty of the offence to which he has pleaded guilty or that the accused has
no valid defence to the charge, the court shall record a plea of not guilty and proceed
with the trial as a summary trial in that court: Provided that an admission by the
accused the recording of which is not disputed by the accused, shall stand as proof of
the fact thus admitted.
(7) Nothing in this section shall prevent the prosecutor from presenting evidence on
any aspect of the charge, or the court from hearing evidence, including evidence or a
statement by or on behalf of the accused, with regard to sentence, or from questioning
the accused on any aspect of the case for the purposes of determining an appropriate
sentence.

122 Plea of not guilty

(1) Where an accused under section 119 pleads not guilty to the offence charged,
the court shall act in terms of section 115 and when that section has been complied
with, the magistrate shall stop the proceedings and adjourn the case pending the
decision of the attorney-general.

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(2) Where the proceedings have been adjourned under subsection (1), the attorney-
general may-
(i) arraign the accused on any charge at a summary trial before a superior
court or any other court having jurisdiction, including the magistrate's court
in which the proceedings were adjourned under subsection (1); or
(ii) institute a preparatory examination against the accused,
and the attorney-general shall advise the magistrate's court concerned of his decision.
(3) The magistrate, who need not be the magistrate before whom the proceedings
under section 119 or 122 (1) were conducted, shall advise the accused of the decision
of the attorney-general, and if the decision is that the accused be arraigned-
(a) in the magistrate's court concerned, require the accused to plead to that
charge, and, if the plea to that charge is one of guilty or the plea in respect
of an offence of which the accused may on such charge be convicted is one
of guilty and the prosecutor accepts such plea, deal with the matter in
accordance with the provisions of section 112, in which event the provisions
of section 114 (1) shall not apply, or, if the plea is one of not guilty, deal
with the matter in accordance with the provisions of section 115 and
proceed with the trial;
[Para. (a) substituted by s. 16 of Act 139 of 1992.]
(b) in a regional court or a superior court, commit the accused for a summary
trial before the court concerned.
(4) The record of the proceedings in the magistrate's court shall, upon proof thereof
in the court in which the accused is arraigned for a summary trial, be received as part
of the record of that court against the accused, and any admission by the accused shall
stand at the trial of the accused as proof of such an admission.

CHAPTER 19A
PLEA IN MAGISTRATE'S COURT ON CHARGE TO BE ADJUDICATED IN
REGIONAL COURT (ss 122A-122D)
[Chapter 19A and heading inserted by s. 7 of Act 56 of 1979.]

122A Accused to plead in magistrate's court on charge to be tried in regional

court
When an accused appears in a magistrate's court and the alleged offence may be
tried by a regional court but not by a magistrate's court or the prosecutor informs the
court that he is of the opinion that the alleged offence is of such a nature or magnitude
that it merits punishment in excess of the jurisdiction of a magistrate's court but not of
the jurisdiction of a regional court, the prosecutor may, notwithstanding the provisions
of section 75, put the relevant charge, as well as any other charge which shall, in
terms of section 82, be disposed of by a regional court, to the accused, who shall,
subject to the provisions of sections 77 and 85, be required by the magistrate to plead
thereto forthwith.
[S. 122A inserted by s. 7 of Act 56 of 1979 and substituted by s. 18 of Act 59 of 1983.]

122B Charge-sheet and proof of record

The provisions of section 120 shall mutatis mutandis apply with reference to the
proceedings under section 122A and the record of the proceedings.
[S. 122B inserted by s. 7 of Act 56 of 1979.]

122C Plea of guilty

(1) Where an accused under section 122A pleads guilty to the offence charged, the
presiding magistrate shall question him in terms of the provisions of paragraph (b) of
section 112 (1).
(2) (a) If the magistrate is satisfied that the accused admits the allegations stated
in the charge, he shall adjourn the case for sentence by the regional court concerned.

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(b) If the magistrate is not satisfied as provided in paragraph (a), he shall record
in what respect he is not so satisfied and enter a plea of not guilty and deal with the
matter in terms of section 122D (1): Provided that an allegation with reference to
which the magistrate is so satisfied and which has been recorded as an admission,
shall stand at the trial of the accused as proof of such allegation.
(3) (a) The record of the proceedings in the magistrate's court shall, upon proof
thereof in the regional court in which the accused is arraigned for sentence, be
received as part of the record of that court against the accused, and the plea of guilty
and any admission by the accused shall stand and form part of the record of that court
unless the accused satisfies the court that such plea or such admission was incorrectly
recorded.
(b) Unless the accused satisfies the court that the plea of guilty or an admission
was incorrectly recorded or unless the court is not satisfied that the accused is guilty of
the offence to which he has pleaded guilty or that the accused has no valid defence to
the charge, the court may convict the accused on his plea of guilty of the offence to
which he has pleaded guilty, and impose any competent sentence.
(4) If the accused satisfies the court that the plea of guilty or an admission which is
material to his guilt was incorrectly recorded, or if the court is not satisfied that the
accused is guilty of the offence to which he has pleaded guilty or that the accused has
no valid defence to the charge, the court shall record a plea of not guilty and proceed
with the trial as a summary trial in that court: Provided that an admission by the
accused the recording of which is not disputed by the accused, shall stand as proof of
the fact thus admitted.
(5) Nothing in this section shall prevent the prosecutor from presenting evidence on
any aspect of the charge, or the court from hearing evidence, including evidence or a
statement by or on behalf of the accused, with regard to sentence, or from questioning
the accused on any aspect of the case for the purpose of determining an appropriate
sentence.
[S. 122C inserted by s. 7 of Act 56 of 1979.]

122D Plea of not guilty

(1) Where an accused under section 122A pleads not guilty to the offence charged,
the court shall act in terms of section 115 and when that section has been complied
with, the magistrate shall commit the accused for a summary trial in the regional court
concerned on the charge to which he has pleaded not guilty or on the charge in respect
of which a plea of not guilty has been entered under section 122C (2) (b).
(2) The regional court may try the accused on the charge in respect of which he has
been committed for a summary trial under subsection (1) or on any other or further
charge which the prosecutor may prefer against the accused and which the court is
competent to try.
(3) The record of proceedings in the magistrate's court shall, upon proof thereof in
the regional court in which the accused is arraigned for a summary trial, be received as
part of the record of that court against the accused, and any admission by the accused
shall stand at the trial of the accused as proof of such an admission.
[S. 122D inserted by s. 7 of Act 56 of 1979.]

CHAPTER 20
PREPARATORY EXAMINATION (ss 123-143)

123 Attorney-general may instruct that preparatory examination be held

If an attorney-general is of the opinion that it is necessary for the more effective
administration of justice-
(a) that a trial in a superior court be preceded by a preparatory examination in
a magistrate's court into the allegations against the accused, he may,
where he does not follow the procedure under section 119, or, where he

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does follow it and the proceedings are adjourned under section 121 (3) or 122 (1)
pending the decision of the attorney-general, instruct that a preparatory
examination be instituted against the accused;
[Para. (a) amended by s. 8 of Act 56 of 1979.]
(b) that a trial in a magistrate's court or a regional court be converted into a
preparatory examination, he may at any stage of the proceedings, but
before sentence is passed, instruct that the trial be converted into a
preparatory examination.

124 Proceedings preceding holding of preparatory examination to form part

of preparatory examination record
Where an attorney-general acts under paragraph (a) or (b) of section 123-
(a) the record of any proceedings under section 121 (1) or 122 (1) or of any
proceedings in the magistrate's court or regional court before the trial was
converted into a preparatory examination, shall form part of the
preparatory examination record;
[Para. (a) amended by s. 9 of Act 56 of 1979.]
(b) and the accused has pleaded to a charge, the preparatory examination shall
continue on the charge to which the accused has pleaded: Provided that
where evidence is led at such preparatory examination which relates to an
offence, other than the offence contained in the charge to which the
accused has pleaded, allegedly committed by the accused, such evidence
shall not be excluded on the ground only that the evidence does not relate
to the offence to which the accused has pleaded.

125 Attorney-general may direct that preparatory examination be conducted

at a specified place
(1) Where an attorney-general instructs that a preparatory examination be
instituted or that a trial be converted into a preparatory examination, he may, if it
appears to him expedient on account of the number of accused involved or of
excessive inconvenience or of possible disturbance of the public order, that the
preparatory examination be held within his area of jurisdiction in a court other than the
court in which the relevant proceedings were commenced, direct that the preparatory
examination be instituted in such other court or, where a trial has been converted into
a preparatory examination, be continued in such other court.
(2) The magistrate or regional magistrate shall, after advice of the decision of the
attorney-general, advise the accused of the decision of the attorney-general and
adjourn the proceedings to such other court, and thereafter forward a copy of the
record of the proceedings, certified as correct by the clerk of the court, to the court to
which the proceedings have been adjourned.
(3) The court to which the proceedings are adjourned under subsection (2), shall
receive the copy of the record referred to in that subsection, which shall then form part
of the proceedings of that court, and shall proceed to conduct the preparatory
examination as if it were a preparatory examination instituted in that court.

126 Procedure to be followed by magistrate at preparatory examination

Where an attorney-general instructs that a preparatory examination be held against
an accused, the magistrate or regional magistrate shall, after advice of the decision of
the attorney-general, advise the accused of the decision of the attorney-general and
proceed in the manner hereinafter described to enquire into the charge against the
accused.

127 Recalling of witnesses after conversion of trial into preparatory

examination
Where an attorney-general instructs that a trial be converted into a preparatory
examination, it shall not be necessary for the magistrate or regional magistrate to

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recall any witness who has already given evidence at the trial, but the record of the
evidence thus given, certified as correct by the magistrate or regional magistrate, as
the case may be, or, if such evidence was recorded in shorthand or by mechanical
means, any document purporting to be a transcription of the original record of such
evidence and purporting to be certified as correct under the hand of the person who
transcribed it, shall have the same legal force and effect and shall be admissible in
evidence in the same circumstances as the evidence given in the course of a
preparatory examination: Provided that if it appears to the magistrate or regional
magistrate concerned that it may be in the interests of justice to have a witness
already examined recalled for further examination, then such witness shall be recalled
and further examined and the evidence given by him shall be recorded in the same
manner as other evidence given at a preparatory examination.

128 Examination of prosecution witnesses at preparatory examination

The prosecutor may, at a preparatory examination, call any witness in support of
the charge to which the accused has pleaded or to testify in relation to any other
offence allegedly committed by the accused.

129 Recording of evidence at preparatory examination and proof of record

(1) The evidence given at a preparatory examination shall be recorded, and if such
evidence is recorded in shorthand or by mechanical means, a document purporting to
be a transcription of the original record of such evidence and purporting to be certified
as correct under the hand of the person who transcribed such evidence, shall have the
same legal force and effect as such original record.
(2) The record of a preparatory examination may be proved in a court by the mere
production thereof or of a copy thereof in terms of section 235.

130 Charge to be put at conclusion of evidence for prosecution

The prosecutor shall, at the conclusion of the evidence in support of the charge, put
to the accused such charge or charges as may arise from the evidence and which the
prosecutor may prefer against the accused.

131 Accused to plead to charge

The magistrate or regional magistrate, as the case may be, shall, subject to the
provisions of sections 77 and 85, require an accused to whom a charge is put under
section 130 forthwith to plead to the charge.

132 Procedure after plea

(1) (a) Where an accused who has been required under section 131 to plead to a
charge to which he has not pleaded before, pleads guilty to the offence charged, the
presiding judicial officer shall question him in accordance with the provisions of
paragraph (b) of section 112 (1).
(b) If the presiding judicial officer is not satisfied that the accused admits all the
allegations in the charge, he shall record in what respect he is not so satisfied and
enter a plea of not guilty: Provided that an allegation with reference to which the said
judicial officer is so satisfied and which has been recorded as an admission, shall stand
at the trial of the accused as proof of such allegation.
(2) Where an accused who has been required under section 131 to plead to a
charge to which he has not pleaded before, pleads not guilty to the offence charged,
the presiding judicial officer shall act in accordance with the provisions of section 115.

133 Accused may testify at preparatory examination

An accused may, after the provisions of section 132 have been complied with but
subject to the provisions of section 151 (1) (b) which shall mutatis mutandis apply,
give evidence or make an unsworn statement in relation to a charge put to him under

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section 130, and the record of such evidence or statement shall be received in
evidence before any court in criminal proceedings against the accused upon its mere
production without further proof.

134 Accused may call witnesses at preparatory examination

An accused may call any competent witness on behalf of the defence.

135 Discharge of accused at conclusion of preparatory examination

As soon as a preparatory examination is concluded and the magistrate or regional
magistrate, as the case may be, is upon the whole of the evidence of the opinion that
no sufficient case has been made out to put the accused on trial upon any charge put
to the accused under section 130 or upon any charge in respect of an offence of which
the accused may on such charge be convicted, he may discharge the accused in
respect of such charge.

136 Procedure with regard to exhibits at preparatory examination

The magistrate or regional magistrate, as the case may be, shall cause every
document and every article produced or identified as an exhibit by any witness at a
preparatory examination to be inventoried and labelled or otherwise marked, and shall
cause such documents and articles to be kept in safe custody pending any trial
following upon such preparatory examination.

137 Magistrate to transmit record of preparatory examination to attorney-

general
The magistrate or regional magistrate, as the case may be, shall, at the conclusion
of a preparatory examination and whether or not the accused is under section 135
discharged in respect of any charge, send a copy of the record of the preparatory
examination to the attorney-general and, where the accused is not discharged in
respect of all the charges put to him under section 130, adjourn the proceedings
pending the decision of the attorney-general.

138 Preparatory examination may be continued before different judicial

officer
A preparatory examination may at any stage be continued by a judicial officer other
than the judicial officer before whom the proceedings were commenced, and, if
necessary, again be continued by the judicial officer before whom the proceedings
were commenced.

139 Attorney-general may arraign accused for sentence or trial

After considering the record of a preparatory examination transmitted to him under
section 137, the attorney-general may-
(a) in respect of any charge to which the accused has under section 131
pleaded guilty, arraign the accused for sentence before any court having
jurisdiction;
(b) arraign the accused for trial before any court having jurisdiction, whether
the accused has under section 131 pleaded guilty or not guilty to any
charge and whether or not he has been discharged under section 135;
(c) decline to prosecute the accused,
and the attorney-general shall advise the lower court concerned of his decision.

140 Procedure where accused arraigned for sentence

(1) Where an accused is under section 139 (a) arraigned for sentence, any
magistrate or regional magistrate of the court in which the preparatory examination
was held shall advise the accused of the decision of the attorney-general and, if the
decision is that the accused be arraigned-

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(a) in the court concerned, dispose of the case on the charge on which the
accused is arraigned; or
(b) in a court other than the court concerned, adjourn the case for sentence by
such other court.
(2) (a) The record of the preparatory examination shall, upon proof thereof in the
court in which the accused is arraigned for sentence, be received as part of the record
of that court against the accused or, if the accused is arraigned in the court in which
the preparatory examination was held, the record of the preparatory examination shall
stand as the record of that court, and the plea of guilty and any admission by the
accused shall stand and form part of the record of that court unless the accused
satisfies the court that such plea or such admission was incorrectly recorded.
(b) Unless the accused satisfies the court that the plea of guilty or an admission
was incorrectly recorded or unless the court is not satisfied that the accused is guilty of
the offence to which he has pleaded guilty or that the accused has no valid defence to
the charge, the court may convict the accused on his plea of guilty of the offence to
which he has pleaded guilty and impose any competent sentence.
[Para. (b) amended by s. 30 of Act 105 of 1997.]

(3) If the accused satisfies the court that the plea of guilty or an admission which is
material to his guilt was incorrectly recorded, or if the court is not satisfied that the
accused is guilty of the offence to which he has pleaded guilty or that the accused has
no valid defence to the charge, the court shall record a plea of not guilty and proceed
with the trial as a summary trial in that court: Provided that an admission by the
accused the recording of which is not disputed by the accused, shall stand as proof of
the fact thus admitted.
(4) Nothing in this section shall prevent the prosecutor from presenting evidence on
any aspect of the charge, or the court from hearing evidence, including evidence or a
statement by or on behalf of the accused, with regard to sentence, or from questioning
the accused on any aspect of the case for the purposes of determining an appropriate
sentence.

141 Procedure where accused arraigned for trial

(1) Where an accused is under section 139 (b) arraigned for trial, a magistrate or
regional magistrate of the court in which the preparatory examination was held shall
advise the accused of the decision of the attorney-general and, if the accused is to be
arraigned in a court other than the court concerned, commit the accused for trial by
such other court.
(2) Where an accused is arraigned for trial after a preparatory examination, the
case shall be dealt with in all respects as with a summary trial.
(3) The record of the preparatory examination shall, upon proof thereof in the court
in which the accused is arraigned for trial, be received as part of the record of that
court against the accused, and any admission by the accused shall stand at the trial of
the accused as proof of such admission: Provided that the evidence adduced at such
preparatory examination shall not form part of the record of the trial of the accused
unless-
(a) the accused pleads guilty at his trial to the offence charged, or to an offence
of which he may be convicted on the charge and the prosecutor accepts
that plea; or
(b) the parties to the proceedings agree that any part of such evidence be
admitted at the proceedings.
(4) (a) Where an accused who has been discharged under section 135 is arraigned
for trial under section 139 (b), the clerk of the court where the preparatory
examination was held shall issue to him a written notice to that effect and stating the
place, date and time for the appearance of the accused in that court for committal for
trial, or, if he is to be arraigned in that court, to plead to the charge on which he is to
be arraigned.

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(b) The notice referred to in paragraph (a) shall be served on the accused in the
manner provided for in sections 54 (2) and (3) for the service of a summons in a lower
court and the provisions of sections 55 (1) and (2) shall mutatis mutandis apply with
reference to such a notice.
(c) If the accused is committed for trial by another court, the court committing
the accused may direct that he be detained in custody, whereupon the provisions of
Chapter 9 shall apply with reference to the release of the accused on bail.

142 Procedure where attorney-general declines to prosecute

Where an attorney-general under section 139 (c) declines to prosecute an accused,
he shall advise the magistrate of the district in which the preparatory examination was
held of his decision, and such magistrate shall forthwith have the accused released
from custody or, if the accused is not in custody, advise the accused in writing of the
decision of the attorney-general, whereupon no criminal proceedings shall again be
instituted against the accused in respect of the charge in question.

143 Accused may inspect preparatory examination record and is entitled to

copy thereof
(1) An accused who is arraigned for sentence or for trial under section 139 may,
without payment, inspect the record of the preparatory examination at the time of his
arraignment before the court.
(2) (a) An accused who is arraigned for sentence or for trial under section 139 shall
be entitled to a copy of the record of the preparatory examination upon payment,
except where a legal practitioner under the Legal Aid South Africa Act, 2014, or pro
Deo counsel is appointed to defend the accused or where the accused is not legally
represented, of a reasonable amount not exceeding twenty-five cents for each folio of
seventy-two words or part thereof.
[Para. (a) amended by s. 25 (1) of Act 39 of 2014.]
(b) The clerk of the court shall as soon as possible provide the accused or his
legal adviser with a copy of the preparatory examination record in accordance with the
provisions of paragraph (a).

CHAPTER 21
TRIAL BEFORE SUPERIOR COURT (ss 144-149)

144 Charge in superior court to be laid in an indictment

(1) Where an attorney-general arraigns an accused for sentence or trial by a
superior court, the charge shall be contained in a document called an indictment,
which shall be framed in the name of the attorney-general.
[Sub-s. (1) substituted by s. 10 (a) of Act 56 of 1979.]

(2) The indictment shall, in addition to the charge against the accused, include the
name and, where known and where applicable, the address and a description of the
accused with regard to sex, nationality and age.
[Sub-s. (2) substituted by s. 17 of Act 139 of 1992.]

(3) (a) Where an attorney-general under section 75, 121 (3) (b) or 122 (2) (i)
arraigns an accused for a summary trial in a superior court, the indictment shall be
accompanied by a summary of the substantial facts of the case that, in the opinion of
the attorney-general, are necessary to inform the accused of the allegations against
him and that will not be prejudicial to the administration of justice or the security of
the State, as well as a list of the names and addresses of the witnesses the attorney-
general intends calling at the summary trial on behalf of the State: Provided that-
(i) this provision shall not be so construed that the State shall be bound by the
contents of the summary;
(ii) the attorney-general may withhold the name and address of a witness if he
is of the opinion that such witness may be tampered with or be intimidated
or that it would be in the interest of the security of the State that the name

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and address of such witness be withheld;

(iii) the omission of the name or address of a witness from such list shall in no
way affect the validity of the trial.
[Para. (a) amended by s. 10 (b) of Act 56 of 1979.]
(b) Where the evidence for the State at the trial of the accused differs in a
material respect from the summary referred to in paragraph (a), the trial court may, at
the request of the accused and if it appears to the court that the accused might be
prejudiced in his defence by reason of such difference, adjourn the trial for such period
as to the court may seem adequate.
(4) (a) An indictment, together with a notice of trial referred to in the rules of court,
shall, unless an accused agrees to a shorter period, be served on an accused at least
ten days (Sundays and public holidays excluded) before the date appointed for the
trial-
(i) in accordance with the procedure and manner laid down by the rules of
court, by handing it to him personally, or, if he cannot be found, by
delivering it at his place of residence or place of employment or business to
a person apparently over the age of sixteen years and apparently residing
or employed there, or, if he has been released on bail, by leaving it at the
place determined under section 62 for the service of any document on him;
or
(ii) by the magistrate or regional magistrate committing him to the superior
court, by handing it to him.
(b) A return of the mode of service by the person who served the indictment and
the notice of trial, or, if the said documents were served in court on the accused by a
magistrate or regional magistrate, an endorsement to that effect on the record of
proceedings, may, upon the failure of the accused to attend the proceedings in the
superior court, be handed in at the proceedings and shall be prima facie proof of the
service.
(c) The provisions of section 55 (1) and (2) shall mutatis mutandis apply with
reference to a notice of trial served on an accused in terms of this subsection.

145 Trial in superior court by judge sitting with or without assessors

(1) (a) Except as provided in section 148, an accused arraigned before a superior
court shall be tried by a judge of that court sitting with or without assessors in
accordance with the provisions set out hereunder.
(b) An assessor for the purposes of this section means a person who, in the
opinion of the judge who presides at a trial, has experience in the administration of
justice or skill in any matter which may be considered at the trial.
(2) Where an attorney-general arraigns an accused before a superior court-
(a) for trial and the accused pleads not guilty; or
(b) for sentence, or for trial and the accused pleads guilty, and a plea of not
guilty is entered at the direction of the presiding judge,
the presiding judge may summon not more than two assessors to assist him at the
trial.
[Sub-s. (2) amended by s. 2 of Act 107 of 1990 and by s. 31 of Act 105 of 1997.]

(3) No assessor shall hear any evidence unless he first takes an oath or, as the case
may be, makes an affirmation, administered by the presiding judge, that he will, on
the evidence placed before him, give a true verdict upon the issues to be tried.
(4) An assessor who takes an oath or makes an affirmation under subsection (3)
shall be a member of the court: Provided that-
(a) subject to the provisions of paragraphs (b) and (c) of this proviso and of
section 217 (3) (b), the decision or finding of the majority of the members
of the court upon any question of fact or upon the question referred to in
the said paragraph (b) shall be the decision or finding of the court, except

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when the presiding judge sits with only one assessor, in which case the decision or
finding of the judge shall, in the case of a difference of opinion, be the
decision or finding of the court;
(b) if the presiding judge is of the opinion that it would be in the interests of
the administration of justice that the assessor or the assessors assisting
him do not take part in any decision upon the question whether evidence of
any confession or other statement made by an accused is admissible as
evidence against him, the judge alone shall decide upon such question, and
he may for this purpose sit alone;
(c) the presiding judge alone shall decide upon any other question of law or
upon any question whether any matter constitutes a question of law or a
question of fact, and he may for this purpose sit alone.
[Sub-s. (4) substituted by s. 4 of Act 64 of 1982.]

(5) If an assessor is not in the full-time employment of the State, he shall be

entitled to such compensation as the Minister, in consultation with the Minister of
Finance, may determine in respect of expenses incurred by him in connection with his
attendance at the trial, and in respect of his services as assessor.

146 Reasons for decision by superior court in criminal trial

A judge presiding at a criminal trial in a superior court shall-
(a) where he decides any question of law, including any question under
paragraph (c) of the proviso to section 145 (4) whether any matter
constitutes a question of law or a question of fact, give the reasons for his
decision;
(b) whether he sits with or without assessors, give the reasons for the decision
or finding of the court upon any question of fact;
(c) where he sits with assessors, give the reasons for the decision or finding of
the court upon the question referred to in paragraph (b) of the proviso to
section 145 (4);
(d) where he sits with assessors and there is a difference of opinion upon any
question of fact or upon the question referred to in paragraph (b) of the
proviso to section 145 (4), give the reasons for the decision or finding of
the member of the court who is in the minority or, where the presiding
judge sits with only one assessor, of such an assessor.
[S. 146 substituted by s. 5 of Act 64 of 1982.]

147 Death or incapacity of assessor

(1) If an assessor dies or, in the opinion of the presiding judge, becomes unable to
act as assessor at any time during a trial, the presiding judge may direct-
(a) that the trial proceed before the remaining member or members of the
court; or
(b) that the trial start de novo, and for that purpose summon an assessor in
the place of the assessor who has died or has become unable to act as
assessor.
(2) Where the presiding judge acts under subsection (1) (b), the plea already
recorded shall stand.

148 ......
[S. 148 repealed by s. 10 of Act 62 of 2000.]

149 Change of venue in superior court after indictment has been lodged
(1) A superior court may, at any time after an indictment has been lodged with the
registrar of that court and before the date of trial, upon application by the prosecution
and after notice to the accused, or upon application by the accused after notice to the
prosecution, order that the trial be held at a place within the area of jurisdiction of

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such court, other than the place determined for the trial, and that it be held on a
date and at a time, other than the date and time determined for the trial.
(2) If the accused is not present or represented at such an application by the
prosecution or if the prosecution is not represented at such an application by the
accused, the court shall direct that a copy of the order be served on the accused or, as
the case may be, on the prosecution, and upon service thereof, the venue and date
and time as changed shall be deemed to be the venue and date and time respectively
that were originally appointed for the trial.

CHAPTER 22
CONDUCT OF PROCEEDINGS (ss 150-178)

150 Prosecutor may address court and adduce evidence

(1) The prosecutor may at any trial, before any evidence is adduced, address the
court for the purpose of explaining the charge and indicating, without comment, to the
court what evidence he intends adducing in support of the charge.
(2) (a) The prosecutor may then examine the witnesses for the prosecution and
adduce such evidence as may be admissible to prove that the accused committed the
offence referred to in the charge or that he committed an offence of which he may be
convicted on the charge.
(b) Where any document may be received in evidence before any court upon its
mere production, the prosecutor shall read out such document in court unless the
accused is in possession of a copy of such document or dispenses with the reading out
thereof.

151 Accused may address court and adduce evidence

(1) (a) If an accused is not under section 174 discharged at the close of the case for
the prosecution, the court shall ask him whether he intends adducing any evidence on
behalf of the defence, and if he answers in the affirmative, he may address the court
for the purpose of indicating to the court, without comment, what evidence he intends
adducing on behalf of the defence.
(b) The court shall also ask the accused whether he himself intends giving
evidence on behalf of the defence, and-
(i) if the accused answers in the affirmative, he shall, except where the court
on good cause shown allows otherwise, be called as a witness before any
other witness for the defence; or
(ii) if the accused answers in the negative but decides, after other evidence has
been given on behalf of the defence, to give evidence himself, the court
may draw such inference from the accused's conduct as may be reasonable
in the circumstances.
(2) (a) The accused may then examine any other witness for the defence and
adduce such other evidence on behalf of the defence as may be admissible.
(b) Where any document may be received in evidence before any court upon its
mere production and the accused wishes to place such evidence before the court, he
shall read out the relevant document in court unless the prosecutor is in possession of
a copy of such document or dispenses with the reading out thereof.

152 Criminal proceedings to be conducted in open court

Except where otherwise expressly provided by this Act or any other law, criminal
proceedings in any court shall take place in open court, and may take place on any
day.

153 Circumstances in which criminal proceedings shall not take place in open
court
(1) In addition to the provisions of section 63 (5) of the Child Justice Act, 2008, if it

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appears to any court that it would, in any criminal proceedings pending before that
court, be in the interests of the security of the State or of good order or of public
morals or of the administration of justice that such proceedings be held behind closed
doors, it may direct that the public or any class thereof shall not be present at such
proceedings or any part thereof.
[Sub-s. (1) substituted by s. 99 (1) of 75 of 2008.]

(2) If it appears to any court at criminal proceedings that there is a likelihood that
harm might result to any person, other than an accused, if he testifies at such
proceedings, the court may direct-
(a) that such person shall testify behind closed doors and that no person shall
be present when such evidence is given unless his presence is necessary in
connection with such proceedings or is authorized by the court;
(b) that the identity of such person shall not be revealed or that it shall not be
revealed for a period specified by the court.
(3) In criminal proceedings relating to a charge that the accused committed or
attempted to commit-
(a) any sexual offence as contemplated in section 1 of the Criminal Law (Sexual
Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007, towards or in
connection with any other person;
(b) any act for the purpose of furthering the commission of a sexual offence as
contemplated in section 1 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related
Matters) Amendment Act, 2007, towards or in connection with any other
person; or
(c) extortion or any statutory offence of demanding from any other person
some advantage which was not due and, by inspiring fear in the mind of
such other person, compelling him to render such advantage,
the court before which such proceedings are pending may, at the request of such other
person or, if he is a minor, at the request of his parent or guardian, direct that any
person whose presence is not necessary at the proceedings or any person or class of
persons mentioned in the request, shall not be present at the proceedings: Provided
that judgment shall be delivered and sentence shall be passed in open court if the
court is of the opinion that the identity of the other person concerned would not be
revealed thereby.
[Sub-s. (3) substituted by s. 68 of Act 32 of 2007.]

(3A) Any person whose presence is not necessary at criminal proceedings referred
to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (3), shall not be admitted at such
proceedings while the other person referred to in those paragraphs is giving evidence,
unless such other person or, if he is a minor, his parent or guardian or a person in loco
parentis, requests otherwise.
[Sub-s. (3A) inserted by s. 2 of Act 103 of 1987.]

(4) ......
[Sub-s. (4) deleted by s. 99 (1) of Act 75 of 2008.]

(5) Where a witness at criminal proceedings before any court is under the age of
eighteen years, the court may direct that no person, other than such witness and his
parent or guardian or a person in loco parentis, shall be present at such proceedings,
unless such person's presence is necessary in connection with such proceedings or is
authorized by the court.
(6) The court may direct that no person under the age of eighteen years shall be
present at criminal proceedings before the court, unless he is a witness referred to in
subsection (5) and is actually giving evidence at such proceedings or his presence is
authorized by the court.

154 Prohibition of publication of certain information relating to criminal

proceedings

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(1) Where a court under section 153 (1) on any of the grounds referred to in that
subsection directs that the public or any class thereof shall not be present at any
proceedings or part thereof, the court may direct that no information relating to the
proceedings or any part thereof held behind closed doors shall be published in any
manner whatever: Provided that a direction by the court shall not prevent the
publication of information relating to the name and personal particulars of the accused,
the charge against him, the plea, the verdict and the sentence, unless the court is of
the opinion that the publication of any part of such information might defeat the object
of its direction under section 153 (1), in which event the court may direct that such
part shall not be published.
(2) (a) Where a court under section 153 (3) directs that any person or class of
persons shall not be present at criminal proceedings or where any person is in terms of
section 153 (3A) not admitted at criminal proceedings, no person shall publish in any
manner whatever any information which might reveal the identity of any complainant
in the proceedings: Provided that the presiding judge or judicial officer may authorize
the publication of such information if he is of the opinion that such publication would
be just and equitable.
[Para. (a) substituted by s. 3 of Act 103 of 1987.]
(b) No person shall at any stage before the appearance of an accused in a court
upon any charge referred to in section 153 (3) or at any stage after such appearance
but before the accused has pleaded to the charge, publish in any manner whatever any
information relating to the charge in question.
(3) No person shall publish in any manner whatever any information which reveals
or may reveal the identity of an accused under the age of eighteen years or of a
witness at criminal proceedings who is under the age of eighteen years: Provided that
the presiding judge or judicial officer may authorize the publication of so much of such
information as he may deem fit if the publication thereof would in his opinion be just
and equitable and in the interest of any particular person.
(4) No prohibition or direction under this section shall apply with reference to the
publication in the form of a bona fide law report of-
(a) information for the purpose of reporting any question of law relating to the
proceedings in question; or
(b) any decision or ruling given by any court on such question,
if such report does not mention the name of the person charged or of the person
against whom or in connection with whom the offence in question was alleged to have
been committed or of any witness at such proceedings, and does not mention the
place where the offence in question was alleged to have been committed.
(5) Any person who publishes any information in contravention of this section or
contrary to any direction or authority under this section or who in any manner
whatever reveals the identity of a witness in contravention of a direction under section
153 (2), shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine or to
imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years or to both such fine and such
imprisonment if the person in respect of whom the publication or revelation of identity
was done, is over the age of 18 years, and if such person is under the age of 18 years,
to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or to both such fine
and such imprisonment.
[Sub-s. (5) substituted by s. 12 of Act 33 of 1986 and by s. 68 of Act 32 of 2007.]

(6) The provisions of section 300 are applicable, with the changes required by the
context, upon the conviction of a person in terms of subsection (5) and if-
(a) the criminal proceedings that gave rise to the publication of information or
the revelation of identity as contemplated in that subsection related to a
charge that an accused person committed or attempted to commit any
sexual act as contemplated in the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and
Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007, towards or in connection with any
other person or any act for the purpose of procuring or furthering the

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commission of a sexual act, as contemplated in that Act, towards or in connection

with any other person; and
(b) the other person referred to in paragraph (a) suffered any physical,
psychological or other injury or loss of income or support.
[Sub-s. (6) added by s. 68 of Act 32 of 2007.]

155 Persons implicated in same offence may be tried together

(1) Any number of participants in the same offence may be tried together and any
number of accessories after the same fact may be tried together or any number of
participants in the same offence and any number of accessories after that fact may be
tried together, and each such participant and each such accessory may be charged at
such trial with the relevant substantive offence alleged against him.
(2) A receiver of property obtained by means of an offence shall for purposes of this
section be deemed to be a participant in the offence in question.

156 Persons committing separate offences at same time and place may be
tried together
Any number of persons charged in respect of separate offences committed at the
same place and at the same time or at about the same time, may be charged and tried
together in respect of such offences if the prosecutor informs the court that evidence
admissible at the trial of one of such persons will, in his opinion, also be admissible as
evidence at the trial of any other such person or such persons.

157 Joinder of accused and separation of trials

(1) An accused may be joined with any other accused in the same criminal
proceedings at any time before any evidence has been led in respect of the charge in
question.
(2) Where two or more persons are charged jointly, whether with the same offence
or with the different offences, the court may at any time during the trial, upon the
application of the prosecutor or of any of the accused, direct that the trial of any one
or more of the accused shall be held separately from the trial of the other accused, and
the court may abstain from giving judgment in respect of any of such accused.

158 Criminal proceedings to take place in presence of accused

(1) Except as otherwise expressly provided by this Act or any other law, all criminal
proceedings in any court shall take place in the presence of the accused.
(2) (a) A court may, subject to section 153, on its own initiative or on application by
the public prosecutor, order that a witness or an accused, if the witness or accused
consents thereto, may give evidence by means of closed circuit television or similar
electronic media.
(b) A court may make a similar order on the application of an accused or a
witness.
(3) A court may make an order contemplated in subsection (2) only if facilities
therefor are readily available or obtainable and if it appears to the court that to do so
would-
(a) prevent unreasonable delay;
(b) save costs;
(c) be convenient;
(d) be in the interest of the security of the State or of public safety or in the
interests of justice or the public; or
(e) prevent the likelihood that prejudice or harm might result to any person if
he or she testifies or is present at such proceedings.
(4) The court may, in order to ensure a fair and just trial, make the giving of

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evidence in terms of subsection (2) subject to such conditions as it may deem

necessary: Provided that the prosecutor and the accused have the right, by means of
that procedure, to question a witness and to observe the reaction of that witness.
(5) The court shall provide reasons for refusing any application by the public
prosecutor for the giving of evidence by a child complainant below the age of 14 years
by means of closed circuit television or similar electronic media, immediately upon
refusal and such reasons shall be entered into the record of the proceedings.
[Sub-s. (5) added by s. 68 of Act 32 of 2007.]
[S. 158 substituted by s. 7 of Act 86 of 1996.]

159 Circumstances in which criminal proceedings may take place in absence

of accused
(1) If an accused at criminal proceedings conducts himself in a manner which makes
the continuance of the proceedings in his presence impracticable, the court may direct
that he be removed and that the proceedings continue in his absence.
(2) If two or more accused appear jointly at criminal proceedings and-
(a) the court is at any time after the commencement of the proceedings
satisfied, upon application made to it by any accused in person or by his
representative-
(i) that the physical condition of that accused is such that he is unable
to attend the proceedings or that it is undesirable that he should
attend the proceedings; or
(ii) that circumstances relating to the illness or death of a member of
the family of that accused make his absence from the proceedings
necessary; or
(b) any of the accused is absent from the proceedings, whether under the
provisions of subsection (1) or without leave of the court,
the court, if it is of the opinion that the proceedings cannot be postponed without
undue prejudice, embarrassment or inconvenience to the prosecution or any co-
accused or any witness in attendance or subpoenaed to attend, may-
(aa) in the case of paragraph (a), authorize the absence of the accused
concerned from the proceedings for a period determined by the court and
on the conditions which the court may deem fit to impose; and
(bb) direct that the proceedings be proceeded with in the absence of the
accused concerned.
(3) Where an accused becomes absent from the proceedings in the circumstances
referred to in subsection (2), the court may, in lieu of directing that the proceedings be
proceeded with in the absence of the accused concerned, upon the application of the
prosecution direct that the proceedings in respect of the absent accused be separated
from the proceedings in respect of the accused who are present, and thereafter, when
such accused is again in attendance, the proceedings against him shall continue from
the stage at which he became absent, and the court shall not be required to be
differently constituted merely by reason of such separation.
(4) If an accused who is in custody in terms of an order of court cannot, by reason
of his physical indisposition or other physical condition, be brought before a court for
the purposes of obtaining an order for his further detention, the court before which the
accused would have been brought for purposes of such an order if it were not for the
indisposition or other condition, may, upon application made by the prosecution at any
time prior to the expiry of the order for his detention wherein the circumstances
surrounding the indisposition or other condition are set out, supported by a certificate
from a medical practitioner, order, in the absence of such an accused, that he be
detained at a place indicated by the court and for the period which the court deems
necessary in order that he can recover and be brought before the court so that an
order for his further detention for the purposes of his trial can be obtained.
[Sub-s. (4) added by s. 9 of Act 5 of 1991.]

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159A Postponement of certain criminal proceedings through audiovisual link

(1) For purposes of this section and sections 159B, 159C and 159D, unless the
context indicates otherwise-
(a) 'appropriate person' means any court official or any other person at the
court point and remote point who is required to be, or may be, present at
the proceedings, including the presiding officer, the prosecutor, the accused
person's legal representative, any technical assistant, the clerk of the court,
any witnesses, and members of the public who are entitled to be present;
(b) 'audio link' means a live telephone link between the court point and the
remote point which are both equipped with facilities which will enable audio
communication between all appropriate persons at the court point and the
remote point;
(c) 'audiovisual link' means a live television link between the court point and
the remote point which are both equipped with facilities which will enable all
appropriate persons at the court point and the remote point to follow the
proceedings and see and hear all the appropriate persons;
(d) 'court point' means the courtroom or other place where the court having
jurisdiction is sitting;
(e) 'correctional facility' means a correctional facility as defined in the
Correctional Services Act, 1998 (Act 111 of 1998), but does not include a
police cell or lock-up; and
(f) 'remote point' means the room or place at the designated correctional
facility where the accused person appearing through audiovisual link is
located.
(2) An accused person-
(a) who is over the age of 18 years;
(b) who is in custody in a correctional facility in respect of an offence;
(c) who has already appeared before a court;
(d) whose case has been postponed and who is in custody pending his or her
trial; and
(e) who is required to appear or to be brought before a court in any subsequent
proceedings (whether before, during or after the trial or conviction and
sentence) for the purpose of-
(i) a further postponement of the case; or
(ii) consideration of release on bail in terms of section 60, 63, 63A,
307, 308A or 321, where the granting of bail is not opposed by the
prosecutor or where the granting of bail does not require the
leading of evidence,
is not required to appear or to be brought physically before the court but may, subject
to the provisions of this section, sections 159B, 159C and 159D, appear before court
by audiovisual link and is deemed to be physically before court, unless the court
directs, in the interests of justice, that he or she appears or be brought physically
before it.
(3) Any proceedings in terms of subsection (2) shall be regarded as having been
held in the presence of the accused person if, during the proceedings, that person-
(a) is held in custody in a correctional facility; and
(b) is able to follow the court proceedings and the court is able to see and hear
the accused person by means of audiovisual link.
(4) The remote point shall be regarded as being a part of the court.
[S. 159A inserted by s. 1 of Act 65 of 2008 in respect of certain magisterial districts. 15]
15 See s. 1 of Act 65 of 2008

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159B Requirements for audiovisual appearance by accused person

(1) An accused person appearing before a court by audiovisual link must do so from
a place at which the requirements referred to in subsections (2) and (3) and section
159C are complied with.
(2) The Minister may, subject to the provisions of this section, designate any
correctional facility which has been suitably equipped as a place where proceedings in
terms of section 159A can be held.
(3) Both the court point and the remote point in the correctional facility designated
in terms of subsection (2) must be equipped with facilities that, in accordance with any
requirements prescribed by regulations and any directions of the court referred to in
section 159C, allow-
(a) private communication to take place between the accused person and any
legal practitioner representing that person in the proceedings at the court
point; and
(b) documents to be transmitted between both points by the persons referred
to in paragraph (a)-
(i) at any time during the proceedings;
(ii) during any adjournment of the hearing in the proceedings referred
to in paragraph (a); or
(iii) at any time on the day of a hearing, shortly before or after the
hearing.
(4) The court must, at every appearance of an accused person in terms of section
159A, inquire into the physical and mental well-being of the accused person and for
that purpose may, where necessary, direct that the facilities referred to in section
159C be used in such a manner which will enable the presiding officer to satisfy
himself or herself as to the accused person's well-being as that presiding officer would
be able to do if the accused person were physically before the court.
[S. 159B inserted by s. 1 of Act 65 of 2008 in respect of certain magisterial districts. 16]
16 See s. 1 of Act 65 of 2008

159C Technical requirements for use of audiovisual link

(1) For the purposes of proceedings in terms of section 159A, both the court point
and the remote point must be equipped with facilities that enable all appropriate
persons-
(a) at the court point to see and hear a person appearing before the court or
making a submission or any other appropriate person at the remote point
and to follow the proceedings; and
(b) at the remote point to see and hear all appropriate persons at the court
point and to follow the proceedings.
(2) (a) In the event of-
(i) an interruption of an audiovisual link;
(ii) an audiovisual link being of a poor quality which, in the opinion of the court,
is not in the interests of justice to continue the proceedings by way of
audiovisual link; or
(iii) any of the facilities referred to in subsection (1) malfunctioning,
the court must, subject to paragraph (b), direct that the matter stand down and cause
the accused person to be brought physically before the court on the day in question.
(b) If it is not reasonably practicable to bring the accused person to court on the

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day, as provided for in paragraph (a), the court must, prior to the expiry of the
existing court order for the accused person's detention, postpone the proceedings in
the absence of the accused person, to the next court day.
(3) The Minister may make any regulations necessary to give effect to the technical
requirements referred to in subsection (1).
(4) A court may, in order to ensure a fair trial, give any directions in any case as it
may deem necessary, which may not be inconsistent with any provision of this Act or
any regulation made thereunder.
[S. 159C inserted by s. 1 of Act 65 of 2008 in respect of certain magisterial districts. 17]
17 See s. 1 of Act 65 of 2008

159D Protection of communication between accused person and legal

representative
Without limiting any other protection applying to it, a communication by audio link
or audiovisual link, or a document transmitted between an accused person and his or
her legal representative as provided for in section 159B (3), is confidential and
inadmissible in any proceedings as if the communication took place or the document
was produced while they were in the presence of each other.
[S. 159D inserted by s. 1 of Act 65 of 2008 in respect of certain magisterial districts. 18]
18 See s. 1 of Act 65 of 2008

160 Procedure at criminal proceedings where accused is absent

(1) If an accused referred to in section 159 (1) or (2) again attends the proceedings
in question, he may, unless he was legally represented during his absence, examine
any witness who testified during his absence, and inspect the record of the
proceedings or require the court to have such record read over to him.
(2) If the examination of a witness under subsection (1) takes place after the
evidence on behalf of the prosecution or any co-accused has been concluded, the
prosecution or such co-accused may in respect of any issue raised by the examination,
lead evidence in rebuttal of evidence relating to the issue so raised.
(3) (a) When the evidence on behalf of all the accused, other than an accused who
is absent from the proceedings, is concluded, the court shall, subject to the provisions
of paragraph (b), postpone the proceedings until such absent accused is in attendance
and, if necessary, further postpone the proceedings until the evidence, if any, on
behalf of that accused has been led.
(b) If it appears to the court that the presence of an absent accused cannot
reasonably be obtained, the court may direct that the proceedings in respect of the
accused who are present be concluded as if such proceedings had been separated from
the proceedings at the stage at which the accused concerned became absent from the
proceedings, and when such absent accused is again in attendance, the proceedings
against him shall continue from the stage at which he became absent, and the court
shall not be required to be differently constituted merely by reason of such separation.
(c) When, in the case of a trial, the evidence on behalf of all the accused has
been concluded and any accused is absent when the verdict is to be delivered, the
verdict may be delivered in respect of all the accused or be withheld until all the
accused are present or be delivered in respect of any accused present and withheld in
respect of the absent accused until he is again in attendance.

161 Witness to testify viva voce

(1) A witness at criminal proceedings shall, except where this Act or any other law

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expressly provides otherwise, give his evidence viva voce.

(2) In this section the expression 'viva voce' shall, in the case of a deaf and dumb
witness, be deemed to include gesture-language and, in the case of a witness under
the age of eighteen years, be deemed to include demonstrations, gestures or any other
form of non-verbal expression.
[Sub-s. (2) substituted by s. 1 of Act 135 of 1991.]

162 Witness to be examined under oath

(1) Subject to the provisions of sections 163 and 164, no person shall be examined
as a witness in criminal proceedings unless he is under oath, which shall be
administered by the presiding judicial officer or, in the case of a superior court, by the
presiding judge or the registrar of the court, and which shall be in the following form:
'I swear that the evidence that I shall give, shall be the truth, the whole truth and
nothing but the truth, so help me God.'.
(2) If any person to whom the oath is administered wishes to take the oath with
uplifted hand, he shall be permitted to do so.

163 Affirmation in lieu of oath

(1) Any person who is or may be required to take the oath and-
(a) who objects to taking the oath;
(b) who objects to taking the oath in the prescribed form;
(c) who does not consider the oath in the prescribed form to be binding on his
conscience; or
(d) who informs the presiding judge or, as the case may be, the presiding
judicial officer, that he has no religious belief or that the taking of the oath
is contrary to his religious belief,
shall make an affirmation in the following words in lieu of the oath and at the direction
of the presiding judicial officer or, in the case of a superior court, the presiding judge
or the registrar of the court:
'I solemnly affirm that the evidence that I shall give, shall be the truth, the whole
truth and nothing but the truth'.
(2) Such affirmation shall have the same legal force and effect as if the person
making it had taken the oath.
(3) The validity of an oath duly taken by a witness shall not be affected if such
witness does not on any of the grounds referred to in subsection (1) decline to take
the oath.

164 When unsworn or unaffirmed evidence admissible

(1) Any person, who is found not to understand the nature and import of the oath
or the affirmation, may be admitted to give evidence in criminal proceedings without
taking the oath or making the affirmation: Provided that such person shall, in lieu of
the oath or affirmation, be admonished by the presiding judge or judicial officer to
speak the truth.
[Sub-s. (1) substituted by s. 68 of Act 32 of 2007.]

(2) If such person wilfully and falsely states anything which, if sworn, would have
amounted to the offence of perjury or any statutory offence punishable as perjury, he
shall be deemed to have committed that offence, and shall, upon conviction, be liable
to such punishment as is by law provided as a punishment for that offence.

165 Oath, affirmation or admonition may be administered by or through

interpreter or intermediary
Where the person concerned is to give his evidence through an interpreter or an
intermediary appointed under section 170A (1), the oath, affirmation or admonition

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under section 162, 163 or 164 shall be administered by the presiding judge or
judicial officer or the registrar of the court, as the case may be, through the interpreter
or intermediary or by the interpreter or intermediary in the presence or under the eyes
of the presiding judge or judicial officer, as the case may be.
[S. 165 substituted by s. 2 of Act 135 of 1991.]

166 Cross-examination and re-examination of witnesses

(1) An accused may cross-examine any witness called on behalf of the prosecution
at criminal proceedings or any co-accused who testifies at criminal proceedings or any
witness called on behalf of such co-accused at criminal proceedings, and the
prosecutor may cross-examine any witness, including an accused, called on behalf of
the defence at criminal proceedings, and a witness called at such proceedings on
behalf of the prosecution may be re-examined by the prosecutor on any matter raised
during the cross-examination of that witness, and a witness called on behalf of the
defence at such proceedings may likewise be re-examined by the accused.
(2) The prosecutor and the accused may, with leave of the court, examine or cross-
examine any witness called by the court at criminal proceedings.
(3) (a) If it appears to a court that any cross-examination contemplated in this
section is being protracted unreasonably and thereby causing the proceedings to be
delayed unreasonably, the court may request the cross-examiner to disclose the
relevancy of any particular line of examination and may impose reasonable limits on
the examination regarding the length thereof or regarding any particular line of
examination.
(b) The court may order that any submission regarding the relevancy of the
cross-examination be heard in the absence of the witness.
[Sub-s. (3) added by s. 8 of Act 86 of 1996.]

167 Court may examine witness or person in attendance

The court may at any stage of criminal proceedings examine any person, other than
an accused, who has been subpoenaed to attend such proceedings or who is in
attendance at such proceedings, and may recall and re-examine any person, including
an accused, already examined at the proceedings, and the court shall examine, or
recall and re-examine, the person concerned if his evidence appears to the court
essential to the just decision of the case.

168 Court may adjourn proceedings to any date

A court before which criminal proceedings are pending, may from time to time
during such proceedings, if the court deems it necessary or expedient, adjourn the
proceedings to any date on the terms which to the court may seem proper and which
are not inconsistent with any provision of this Act.

169 Court may adjourn proceedings to any place

A court before which criminal proceedings are pending, may from time to time
during such proceedings, if the court deems it necessary or expedient that the
proceedings be continued at any place within its area of jurisdiction other than the one
where the court is sitting, adjourn the proceedings to such other place, or, if the court
with reference to any circumstance relevant to the proceedings deems it necessary or
expedient that the proceedings be adjourned to a place other than the place at which
the court is sitting, adjourn the proceedings, on the terms which to the court may
seem proper, to any such place, whether within or outside the area of jurisdiction of
such court, for the purpose of performing at such place any function of the court
relevant to such circumstance.
[S. 169 substituted by s. 19 of Act 59 of 1983.]

170 Failure of accused to appear after adjournment or to remain in

attendance

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(1) An accused at criminal proceedings who is not in custody and who has not been
released on bail, and who fails to appear at the place and on the date and at the time
to which such proceedings may be adjourned or who fails to remain in attendance at
such proceedings as so adjourned, shall be guilty of an offence and liable to the
punishment prescribed under subsection (2).
(2) The court may, if satisfied that an accused referred to in subsection (1) has
failed to appear at the place and on the date and at the time to which the proceedings
in question were adjourned or has failed to remain in attendance at such proceedings
as so adjourned, issue a warrant for his arrest and, when he is brought before the
court, in a summary manner enquire into his failure so to appear or so to remain in
attendance and, unless the accused satisfies the court that his failure was not due to
fault on his part, convict him of the offence referred to in subsection (1) and sentence
him to a fine not exceeding R300 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three
months.
[Sub-s. (2) substituted by s. 13 of Act 33 of 1986.]
[S. 170 amended by s. 11 of Act 56 of 1979 and substituted by s. 5 of Act 109 of 1984.]

170A Evidence through intermediaries

(1) Whenever criminal proceedings are pending before any court and it appears to
such court that it would expose any witness under the biological or mental age of
eighteen years to undue mental stress or suffering if he or she testifies at such
proceedings, the court may, subject to subsection (4), appoint a competent person as
an intermediary in order to enable such witness to give his or her evidence through
that intermediary.
[Sub-s. (1) substituted by s. 68 of Act 32 of 2007.]

(2) (a) No examination, cross-examination or re-examination of any witness in

respect of whom a court has appointed an intermediary under subsection (1), except
examination by the court, shall take place in any manner other than through that
intermediary.
(b) The said intermediary may, unless the court directs otherwise, convey the
general purport of any question to the relevant witness.
(3) If a court appoints an intermediary under subsection (1), the court may direct
that the relevant witness shall give his or her evidence at any place-
(a) which is informally arranged to set that witness at ease;
(b) which is so situated that any person whose presence may upset that
witness, is outside the sight and hearing of that witness; and
(c) which enables the court and any person whose presence is necessary at the
relevant proceedings to see and hear, either directly or through the medium
of any electronic or other devices, that intermediary as well as that witness
during his or her testimony.
(4) (a) The Minister may by notice in the Gazette 19 determine the persons or the
category or class of persons who are competent to be appointed as intermediaries.
(b) An intermediary who is not in the full-time employment of the State shall be
paid such travelling and subsistence and other allowances in respect of the services
rendered by him or her as the Minister, with the concurrence of the Minister of
Finance, may determine.
(5) (a) No oath, affirmation or admonition which has been administered through an
intermediary in terms of section 165 shall be invalid and no evidence which has been
presented through an intermediary shall be inadmissible solely on account of the fact
that such intermediary was not competent to be appointed as an intermediary in terms
of a regulation referred to in subsection (4) (a), at the time when such oath,
affirmation or admonition was administered or such evidence was presented.
(b) If in any proceedings it appears to a court that an oath, affirmation or
admonition was administered or that evidence has been presented through an
intermediary who was appointed in good faith but, at the time of such appointment,

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was not qualified to be appointed as an intermediary in terms of a regulation

referred to in subsection (4) (a), the court must make a finding as to the validity of
that oath, affirmation or admonition or the admissibility of that evidence, as the case
may be, with due regard to-
(i) the reason why the intermediary concerned was not qualified to be
appointed as an intermediary, and the likelihood that the reason concerned
will affect the reliability of the evidence so presented adversely;
(ii) the mental stress or suffering which the witness, in respect of whom that
intermediary was appointed, will be exposed to if that evidence is to be
presented anew, whether by the witness in person or through another
intermediary; and
(iii) the likelihood that real and substantial justice will be impaired if that
evidence is admitted.
(6) (a) Subsection (5) does not prevent the prosecution from presenting anew any
evidence which was presented through an intermediary referred to in that subsection.
(b) The provisions of subsection (5) shall also be applicable in respect of all cases
where an intermediary referred to in that subsection has been appointed, and in
respect of which, at the time of the commencement of that subsection-
(i) the trial court; or
(ii) the court considering an appeal or review,
has not delivered judgment.
(7) The court shall provide reasons for refusing any application or request by the
public prosecutor for the appointment of an intermediary in respect of child
complainants below the age of 14 years, immediately upon refusal and such reasons
shall be entered into the record of the proceedings.
[Sub-s. (7) added by s. 68 of Act 32 of 2007.]

(8) An intermediary referred to in subsection (1) shall be summoned to appear in

court on a specified date and at a specified place and time to act as an intermediary.
[Sub-s. (8) added by s. 68 of Act 32 of 2007.]

(9) If, at the commencement of or at any stage before the completion of the
proceedings concerned, an intermediary appointed by the court-
(a) is for any reason absent;
(b) becomes unable to act as an intermediary in the opinion of the court; or
(c) dies,
the court may, in the interests of justice and after due consideration of the arguments
put forward by the accused person and the prosecutor-
(i) postpone the proceedings in order to obtain the intermediary's presence;
(ii) summons the intermediary to appear before the court to advance reasons
for being absent;
(iii) direct that the appointment of the intermediary be revoked and appoint
another intermediary; or
(iv) direct that the appointment of the intermediary be revoked and that the
proceedings continue in the absence of an intermediary.
[Sub-s. (9) added by s. 68 of Act 32 of 2007.]

(10) The court shall immediately give reasons for any direction or order referred to
in subsection (9) (iv), which reasons shall be entered into the record of the
proceedings.
[Sub-s. (10) added by s. 68 of Act 32 of 2007.]
[S. 170A inserted by s. 3 of Act 135 of 1991 and substituted by s. 1 of Act 17 of 2001.]
19 Persons or categories or classes of persons who are competent to be appointed as
intermediaries determined - GN R1374 in GG 15024 of 30 July 1993, as amended

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171 Evidence on commission

(1) (a) Whenever criminal proceedings are pending before any court and it appears
to such court on application made to it that the examination of any witness who is
resident in the Republic is necessary in the interests of justice and that the attendance
of such witness cannot be obtained without undue delay, expense or inconvenience the
court may dispense with such attendance and issue a commission to any magistrate.
[Para. (a) substituted by s. 36 of Act 75 of 1996.]
(b) The specific matter with regard to which the evidence of the witness is
required, shall be set out in the relevant application, and the court may confine the
examination of the witness to such matter.
(c) Where the application is made by the State, the court may, as a condition of
the commission, direct that the costs of legal representation for the accused at the
examination be paid by the State.
(2) (a) The magistrate to whom the commission is issued, shall proceed to the place
where the witness is or shall summon the witness before him or her, and take down
the evidence in the manner set out in paragraph (b).
[Para. (a) substituted by s. 36 of Act 75 of 1996.]
(b) The witness shall give his or her evidence upon oath or by affirmation, and
such evidence shall be recorded and read over to the witness, and if he or she adheres
thereto, be subscribed by him or her and the magistrate concerned.
[Para. (b) substituted by s. 36 of Act 75 of 1996.]
(c) ......
[Para. (c) deleted by s. 36 of Act 75 of 1996.]

172 Parties may examine witness

Any party to proceedings in which a commission is issued under section 171, may-
(a) transmit interrogatories in writing which the court issuing the commission
may think relevant to the issue, and the magistrate to whom the
commission is issued, shall examine the witness upon such interrogatories;
or
(b) appear before such magistrate, either by a legal representative or, in the
case of an accused who is not in custody or in the case of a private
prosecutor, in person, and examine the witness.
[S. 172 substituted by s. 36 of Act 75 of 1996.]

173 Evidence on commission part of court record

The Magistrate shall return the evidence in question to the court which issued the
commission, and such evidence shall be open to the inspection of the parties to the
proceedings and shall, in so far as it is admissible as evidence in such proceedings,
form part of the record of such court.
[S. 173 substituted by s. 36 of Act 75 of 1996.]

174 Accused may be discharged at close of case for prosecution

If, at the close of the case for the prosecution at any trial, the court is of the opinion
that there is no evidence that the accused committed the offence referred to in the
charge or any offence of which he may be convicted on the charge, it may return a
verdict of not guilty.

175 Prosecution and defence may address court at conclusion of evidence

(1) After all the evidence has been adduced, the prosecutor may address the court,
and thereafter the accused may address the court.
(2) The prosecutor may reply on any matter of law raised by the accused in his
address, and may, with leave of the court, reply on any matter of fact raised by the

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accused in his address.

176 Judgment may be corrected

When by mistake a wrong judgment is delivered, the court may, before or
immediately after it is recorded, amend the judgment.

177 Court may defer final decision

The court may at criminal proceedings defer its reasons for any decision on any
question raised at such proceedings, and the reasons so deferred shall, when given, be
deemed to have been given at the time of the proceedings.

178 Arrest of person committing offence in court and removal from court of
person disturbing proceedings
(1) Where an offence is committed in the presence of the court, the presiding judge
or judicial officer may order the arrest of the offender.
(2) If any person, other than an accused, who is present at criminal proceedings,
disturbs the peace or order of the court, the court may order that such person be
removed from the court and that he be detained in custody until the rising of the court.

CHAPTER 23
WITNESSES (ss 179-207)

179 Process for securing attendance of witness

(1) (a) The prosecutor or an accused may compel the attendance of any person to
give evidence or to produce any book, paper or document in criminal proceedings by
taking out of the office prescribed by the rules of court the process of court for that
purpose.
(b) If any police official has reasonable grounds for believing that the attendance
of any person is or will be necessary to give evidence or to produce any book, paper or
document in criminal proceedings in a lower court, and hands to such person a written
notice calling upon him to attend such criminal proceedings on the date and at the
time and place specified in the notice, to give evidence or to produce any book, paper
or document, likewise specified, such person shall, for the purposes of this Act, be
deemed to have been duly subpoenaed so to attend such criminal proceedings.
(2) Where an accused desires to have any witness subpoenaed, a sum of money
sufficient to cover the costs of serving the subpoena shall be deposited with the
prescribed officer of the court.
(3) (a) Where an accused desires to have any witness subpoenaed and he satisfies
the prescribed officer of the court-
(i) that he is unable to pay the necessary costs and fees; and
(ii) that such witness is necessary and material for his defence,
such officer shall subpoena such witness.
(b) In any case where the prescribed officer of the court is not so satisfied, he
shall, upon the request of the accused, refer the relevant application to the judge or
judicial officer presiding over the court, who may grant or refuse the application or
defer his decision until he has heard other evidence in the case.
(4) For the purposes of this section 'prescribed officer of the court' means the
registrar, assistant registrar, clerk of the court or any officer prescribed by the rules of
court.

180 Service of subpoena

(1) A subpoena in criminal proceedings shall be served in the manner provided by
the rules of court by a person empowered to serve a subpoena in criminal proceedings.

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(2) A return by the person empowered to serve a subpoena in criminal proceedings,

that the service thereof has been duly effected, may, upon the failure of a witness to
attend the relevant proceedings, be handed in at such proceedings and shall be prima
facie proof of such service.

181 Pre-payment of witness expenses

Where a subpoena is served on a witness at a place outside the magisterial district
from which the subpoena is issued, or, in the case of a superior court, at a place
outside the magisterial district in which the proceedings at which the witness is to
appear are to take place, and the witness is required to travel from such place to the
court in question, the necessary expenses to travel to and from such court and of
sojourn at the court in question, shall on demand be paid to such witness at the time
of service of the subpoena.

182 Witness from prison

A prisoner who is in a prison shall be subpoenaed as a witness on behalf of the
defence or a private prosecutor only if the court before which the prisoner is to appear
as a witness authorizes that the prisoner be subpoenaed as a witness, and the court
shall give such authority only if it is satisfied that the evidence in question is necessary
and material for the defence or the private prosecutor, as the case may be, and that
the public safety or order will not be endangered by the calling of the witness.

183 Witness to keep police informed of whereabouts

(1) Any person who is advised in writing by any police official that he will be
required as a witness in criminal proceedings, shall, until such criminal proceedings
have been finally disposed of or until he is officially advised that he will no longer be
required as a witness, keep such police official informed at all times of his full
residential address or any other address where he may conveniently be found.
(2) Any person who fails to comply with the provisions of subsection (1), shall be
guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding R300 or to
imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months.
[Sub-s. (2) substituted by s. 14 of Act 33 of 1986.]

184 Witness about to abscond and witness evading service of summons

(1) Whenever any person is likely to give material evidence in criminal proceedings
with reference to any offence, other than an offence referred to in Part III of Schedule
2 any magistrate, regional magistrate or judge of the court before which the relevant
proceedings are pending may, upon information in writing and on oath that such
person is about to abscond, issue a warrant for his arrest.
[Sub-s. (1) substituted by s. 3 of Act 126 of 1992.]

(2) If a person referred to in subsection (1) is arrested, the magistrate, regional

magistrate or judge, as the case may be, may warn him to appear at the proceedings
in question at a stated place and at a stated time and on a stated date and release him
on any condition referred to in paragraph (a), (b) or (e) of section 62, in which event
the provisions of subsections (1), (3) and (4) of section 66 shall mutatis mutandis
apply with reference to any such condition.
(3) (a) A person who fails to comply with a warning under subsection (2) shall be
guilty of an offence and liable to the punishment contemplated in paragraph (b) of this
subsection.
(b) The provisions of section 170 (2) shall mutatis mutandis apply with reference
to any person who is guilty of an offence under paragraph (a) of this subsection.
(4) Whenever any person is likely to give material evidence in criminal proceedings,
any magistrate, regional magistrate or judge of the court before which the relevant
proceedings are pending may, upon information in writing and on oath that such
person is evading service of the relevant subpoena, issue a warrant for his arrest,

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whereupon the provisions of subsections (2) and (3) shall mutatis mutandis apply
with reference to such person.

185 Detention of witness

(1) (a) Whenever any person is with reference to any offence referred to in Part III
of Schedule 2 in the opinion of the attorney-general likely to give evidence on behalf of
the State at criminal proceedings in any court, and the attorney-general, from
information placed before him-
(i) is of the opinion that the personal safety of such person is in danger or that
he may abscond or that he may be tampered with or that he may be
intimidated; or
(ii) deems it to be in the interests of such person or of the administration of
justice that he be detained in custody,
the attorney-general may by way of affidavit place such information before a judge in
chambers and apply to such judge for an order that the person concerned be detained
pending the relevant proceedings.
(b) The Attorney-general may in any case in which he is of the opinion that the
object of obtaining an order under paragraph (a) may be defeated if the person
concerned is not detained without delay, order that such person be detained forthwith
but such order shall not endure for longer than seventy-two hours unless the attorney-
general within that time by way of affidavit places before a judge in chambers the
information on which he ordered the detention of the person concerned and such
further information as might become available to him, and applies to such judge for an
order that the person concerned be detained pending the relevant proceedings.
(c) The attorney-general shall, as soon as he applies to a judge under paragraph (b)
for an order of detention, in writing advise the person in charge of the place where the
person concerned is being detained, that he has so applied for an order, and shall,
where a judge under subsection (2) (a) refuses to issue a warrant for the detention of
the person concerned, forthwith advise the person so in charge of such refusal,
whereupon the person so in charge shall without delay release the person detained.
(2) (a) The judge hearing the application under subsection (1) may, if it appears to
him from the information placed before him by the attorney-general-
(i) that there is a danger that the personal safety of the person concerned may
be threatened or that he may abscond or that he may be tampered with or
that he may be intimidated; or
(ii) that it would be in the interests of the person concerned or of the
administration of justice that he be detained in custody,
issue a warrant for the detention of such person.
(b) The decision of a judge under paragraph (a) shall be final: Provided that
where a judge refuses an application and further information becomes available to the
attorney-general concerning the person in respect of whom the application was
refused, the attorney-general may again apply under subsection (1) (a) for the
detention of that person.
(3) A person in respect of whom a warrant is issued under subsection (2), shall be
taken to the place mentioned in the warrant and, in accordance with regulations which
the Minister is hereby authorized to make, be detained there or at any other place
determined by any judge from time to time, or, where the person concerned is
detained in terms of an order by the attorney-general under subsection (1) (b), such
person shall, pending the decision of the judge under subsection (2) (a), be taken to a
place determined by the attorney-general and detained there in accordance with the
said regulations.
(4) Any person detained under a warrant in terms of subsection (2) shall be
detained for the period terminating on the day on which the criminal proceedings
concerned are concluded, unless-

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(a) the attorney-general orders that he be released earlier; or

(b) such proceedings have not commenced within six months from the date on
which he is so detained, in which case he shall be released after the
expiration of such period.
[Sub-s. (4) substituted by s. 2 (1) of Act 79 of 1978.]

(5) No person, other than an officer in the service of the State acting in the
performance of his official duties, shall have access to a person detained under
subsection (2), except with the consent of and subject to the conditions determined by
the attorney-general or an officer in the service of the State delegated by him.
(6) Any person detained under subsection (2) shall be visited in private at least
once during each week by a magistrate of the district or area in which he is detained.
(7) For the purposes of section 191 any person detained under subsection (2) of
this section shall be deemed to have attended the criminal proceedings in question as
a witness for the State during the whole of the period of his detention.
(8) ......
[Sub-s. (8) deleted by s. 69 of Act 88 of 1996.]

(9) (a) In this section the expression 'judge in chambers' means a judge sitting
behind closed doors when hearing the relevant application.
(b) No information relating to the proceedings under subsection (1) or (2) shall
be published or be made public in any manner whatever.

185A ......
[S. 185A inserted by s. 4 of Act 135 of 1991 and repealed by s. 24 (1) of Act 112 of 1998.]

186 Court may subpoena witness

The court may at any stage of criminal proceedings subpoena or cause to be
subpoenaed any person as a witness at such proceedings, and the court shall so
subpoena a witness or so cause a witness to be subpoenaed if the evidence of such
witness appears to the court essential to the just decision of the case.

187 Witness to attend proceedings and to remain in attendance

A witness who is subpoenaed to attend criminal proceedings, shall attend the
proceedings and remain in attendance at the proceedings, and a person who is in
attendance at criminal proceedings, though not subpoenaed as a witness, and who is
warned by the court to remain in attendance at the proceedings, shall remain in
attendance at the proceedings, unless such witness or such person is excused by the
court: Provided that the court may, at any time during the proceedings in question,
order that any person, other than the accused, who is to be called as a witness, shall
leave the court and remain absent from the proceedings until he is called, and that he
shall remain in court after he has given evidence.

188 Failure by witness to attend or to remain in attendance

(1) Any person who is subpoenaed to attend criminal proceedings and who fails to
attend or to remain in attendance at such proceedings, and any person who is warned
by the court to remain in attendance at criminal proceedings and who fails to remain in
attendance at such proceedings, and any person so subpoenaed or so warned who fails
to appear at the place and on the date and at the time to which the proceedings in
question may be adjourned or who fails to remain in attendance at such proceedings
as so adjourned, shall be guilty of an offence and liable to the punishment
contemplated in subsection (2).
[Sub-s. (1) substituted by s. 6 of Act 109 of 1984.]

(2) The provisions of section 170 (2) shall mutatis mutandis apply with reference to
any person referred to in subsection (1).

189 Powers of court with regard to recalcitrant witness

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(1) If any person present at criminal proceedings is required to give evidence at

such proceedings and refuses to be sworn or to make an affirmation as a witness, or,
having been sworn or having made an affirmation as a witness, refuses to answer any
question put to him or refuses or fails to produce any book, paper or document
required to be produced by him, the court may in a summary manner enquire into
such refusal or failure and, unless the person so refusing or failing has a just excuse
for his refusal or failure, sentence him to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two
years or, where the criminal proceedings in question relate to an offence referred to in
Part III of Schedule 2, to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years.
[Sub-s. (1) substituted by s. 20 of Act 59 of 1983 and by s. 4 of Act 126 of 1992.]

(2) After the expiration of any sentence imposed under subsection (1), the person
concerned may from time to time again be dealt with under that subsection with
regard to any further refusal or failure.
(3) A court may at any time on good cause shown remit any punishment or part
thereof imposed by it under subsection (1).
(4) Any sentence imposed by any court under subsection (1) shall be executed and
be subject to appeal in the same manner as a sentence imposed in any criminal case
by such court, and shall be served before any other sentence of imprisonment imposed
on the person concerned.
(5) The court may, notwithstanding any action taken under this section, at any time
conclude the criminal proceedings referred to in subsection (1).
(6) No person shall be bound to produce any book, paper or document not specified
in any subpoena served upon him, unless he has such book, paper or document in
court.
(7) Any lower court shall have jurisdiction to sentence any person to the maximum
period of imprisonment prescribed by this section.

190 Impeachment or support of credibility of witness

(1) Any party may in criminal proceedings impeach or support the credibility of any
witness called against or on behalf of such party in any manner in which and by any
evidence by which the credibility of such witness might on the thirtieth day of May,
1961, have been impeached or supported by such party.
(2) Any such party who has called a witness who has given evidence in any such
proceedings (whether that witness is or is not, in the opinion of the court, adverse to
the party calling him), may, after such party or the court has asked the witness
whether he did or did not previously make a statement with which his evidence in the
said proceedings is inconsistent, and after sufficient particulars of the alleged previous
statement to designate the occasion when it was made have been given to the
witness, prove that he previously made a statement with which such evidence is
inconsistent.

191 Payment of expenses of witness

(1) Any person who attends criminal proceedings as a witness for the State shall be
entitled to such allowance as may be prescribed under subsection (3): Provided that
the judicial officer or the judge presiding at such proceedings may, if he thinks fit,
direct that no such allowance or that only a part of such allowance shall be paid to any
such witness.
(2) Subject to any regulation made under subsection (3), the judicial officer or the
judge presiding at criminal proceedings may, if he thinks fit, direct that any person
who has attended such proceedings as a witness for the accused, shall be paid such
allowance as may be prescribed by such regulation, or such lesser allowance as such
judicial officer or such judge may determine.
(3) 20 The Minister may, in consultation with the Minister of Finance, by regulation
prescribe a tariff of allowances which may be paid out of public moneys to witnesses in

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criminal proceedings, and may by regulation prescribe different tariffs for witnesses
according to their several callings, occupations or stations in life, and according also to
the distances to be travelled by such witnesses to reach the place where the
proceedings in question are to take place, and may by regulation further prescribe the
circumstances in which such allowances may be paid to any witness for an accused.
(4) The Minister may under subsection (3) empower any officer in the service of the
State to authorize, in any case in which the payment of an allowance in accordance
with the tariff prescribed 21 may cause undue hardship or in the case of any person
resident outside the Republic, the payment of an allowance in accordance with a higher
tariff than the tariff prescribed.
(5) For the purposes of this section 'witness' shall include any person necessarily
required to accompany any witness on account of his youth, old age or infirmity.
20 Regulations prescribing the tariff of allowances payable to witnesses in criminal proceedings
were published under GN R391 in GG 30953 of 11 April 2008. Regulations prescribing the tariff of
allowances payable to psychiatrists and clinical psychologists who appear as witnesses in court were
published under GN R392 in GG 30953 of 11 April 2008
21 Regulations prescribing the tariff of allowances of witnesses in criminal proceedings have been
published under GN R391 in GG 30953 of 11 April 2008

191A Witness services

(1) The Minister has the power to determine services to be provided to a witness
who is required to give evidence in any court of law.
(2) The Minister may make regulations relating to-
(a) the assistance of, and support to, witnesses at courts;
(b) the establishment of reception centres for witnesses at courts;
(c) the counselling of witnesses; and
(d) any other matter which the Minister deems expedient to prescribe in order
to provide services to witnesses at courts.
(3) Any regulation made under this section which may result in financial expenditure
for the State must be made in consultation with the Minister of Finance.
(4) Any regulation made under this section may provide that any person who
contravenes a provision thereof or fails to comply therewith shall be guilty of an
offence and on conviction be liable to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not
exceeding three years.
(5) Any regulation made under this section must, before publication thereof in the
Gazette, be submitted to Parliament.
[S. 191A inserted by s. 25 of Act 112 of 1998.]

192 Every witness competent and compellable unless expressly excluded

Every person not expressly excluded by this Act from giving evidence shall, subject
to the provisions of section 206, be competent and compellable to give evidence in
criminal proceedings.

193 Court to decide upon competency of witness

The court in which criminal proceedings are conducted shall decide any question
concerning the competency or compellability of any witness to give evidence.

194 Incompetency due to state of mind

No person appearing or proved to be afflicted with mental illness or to be labouring
under any imbecility of mind due to intoxication or drugs or the like, and who is
thereby deprived of the proper use of his reason, shall be competent to give evidence

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while so afflicted or disabled.

195 Evidence for prosecution by husband or wife of accused

(1) The wife or husband of an accused shall be competent, but not compellable, to
give evidence for the prosecution in criminal proceedings, but shall be competent and
compellable to give evidence for the prosecution at such proceedings where the
accused is charged with-
(a) any offence committed against the person of either of them or of a child of
either of them or of a child that is in the care of either of them;
(b) any offence under Chapter 8 of the Child Care Act, 1983 (Act 74 of 1983),
committed in respect of any child of either of them;
(c) any contravention of any provision of section 31 (1) of the Maintenance Act,
1998, or of such provision as applied by any other law;
(d) bigamy;
(e) incest as contemplated in section 12 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences
and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007;
(f) abduction;
(g) any contravention of any provision of section 2, 8, 10, 12, 12A, 17 or 20 of
the Sexual Offences Act, 1957 (Act 23 of 1957);
(gA) any contravention of any provision of section 17 or 23 of the Criminal Law
(Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007;
(h) perjury committed in connection with or for the purpose of any judicial
proceedings instituted or to be instituted or contemplated by the one of
them against the other, or in connection with or for the purpose of criminal
proceedings in respect of any offence included in this subsection;
(i) the statutory offence of making a false statement in any affidavit or any
affirmed, solemn or attested declaration if it is made in connection with or
for the purpose of any such proceedings as are mentioned in paragraph (h).
[Sub-s. (1) amended by s. 5 of Act 72 of 1985 and by s. 7 of Act 26 of 1987, substituted by s.
6 of Act 45 of 1988, amended by s. 4 of Act 18 of 1996, by s. 1 of Act 49 of 1996 and by s. 45
(1) of Act 99 of 1998 and substituted by s. 68 of Act 32 of 2007.]

(2) For the purposes of the law of evidence in criminal proceedings 'marriage' shall
include a customary marriage or customary union concluded under the indigenous law
and custom of any of the indigenous peoples of the Republic of South Africa or any
marriage concluded under any system of religious law.
[Sub-s. (2) substituted by s. 4 of Act 18 of 1996.]

196 Evidence of accused and husband or wife on behalf of accused

(1) An accused and the wife or husband of an accused shall be a competent witness
for the defence at every stage of criminal proceedings, whether or not the accused is
charged jointly with any other person: Provided that-
(a) an accused shall not be called as a witness except upon his own application;
(b) the wife or husband of an accused shall not be a compellable witness where
a co-accused calls that wife or husband as a witness for the defence.
[Para. (b) substituted by s. 7 of Act 45 of 1988.]

(2) The evidence which an accused may, upon his own application, give in his own
defence at joint criminal proceedings, shall not be inadmissible against a co-accused at
such proceedings by reason only that such accused is for any reason not a competent
witness for the prosecution against such co-accused.
(3) An accused may not make an unsworn statement at his trial in lieu of evidence
but shall, if he wishes to give evidence, do so on oath or, as the case may be, by
affirmation.

197 Privileges of accused when giving evidence

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An accused who gives evidence at criminal proceedings shall not be asked or

required to answer any question tending to show that he has committed or has been
convicted of or has been charged with any offence other than the offence with which
he is charged, or that he is of bad character, unless-
(a) he or his legal representative asks any question of any witness with a view
to establishing his own good character or he himself gives evidence of his
own good character, or the nature or conduct of the defence is such as to
involve imputation of the character of the complainant or any other witness
for the prosecution;
(b) he gives evidence against any other person charged with the same offence
or an offence in respect of the same facts;
(c) the proceedings against him are such as are described in section 240 or 241
and the notice under those sections has been given to him; or
(d) the proof that he has committed or has been convicted of such other
offence is admissible evidence to show that he is guilty of the offence with
which he is charged.

198 Privilege arising out of marital state

(1) A husband shall not at criminal proceedings be compelled to disclose any
communication which his wife made to him during the marriage, and a wife shall not at
criminal proceedings be compelled to disclose any communication which her husband
made to her during the marriage.
(2) Subsection (1) shall also apply to a communication made during the subsistence
of a marriage or a putative marriage which has been dissolved or annulled by a
competent court.
[Sub-s (2) substituted by s. 8 of Act 45 of 1988.]

199 No witness compelled to answer question which the witness's husband

or wife may decline
No person shall at criminal proceedings be compelled to answer any question or to
give any evidence, if the question or evidence is such that under the circumstances the
husband or wife of such person, if under examination as a witness, may lawfully refuse
and cannot be compelled to answer or to give it.

200 Witness not excused from answer establishing civil liability on his part
A witness in criminal proceedings may not refuse to answer any question relevant to
the issue by reason only that the answer establishes or may establish a civil liability on
his part.

201 Privilege of legal practitioner

No legal practitioner qualified to practise in any court, whether within the Republic
or elsewhere, shall be competent, without the consent of the person concerned, to give
evidence at criminal proceedings against any person by whom he is professionally
employed or consulted as to any fact, matter or thing with regard to which such
practitioner would not on the thirtieth day of May, 1961, by reason of such
employment or consultation, have been competent to give evidence without such
consent: Provided that such legal practitioner shall be competent and compellable to
give evidence as to any fact, matter or thing which relates to or is connected with the
commission of any offence with which the person by whom such legal practitioner is
professionally employed or consulted, is charged, if such fact, matter or thing came to
the knowledge of such legal practitioner before he was professionally employed or
consulted with reference to the defence of the person concerned.

202 Privilege from disclosure on ground of public policy or public interest

Except as is in this Act provided and subject to the provisions of any other law, no

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witness in criminal proceedings shall be compellable or permitted to give evidence

as to any fact, matter or thing or as to any communication made to or by such
witness, if such witness would on the thirtieth day of May, 1961, not have been
compellable or permitted to give evidence with regard to such fact, matter or thing or
communication by reason that it should not, on the grounds of public policy or from
regard to public interest, be disclosed, and that it is privileged from disclosure:
Provided that any person may in criminal proceedings adduce evidence of any
communication alleging the commission of an offence, if the making of that
communication prima facie constitutes an offence, and the judge or judicial officer
presiding at such proceedings may determine whether the making of such
communication prima facie does or does not constitute an offence, and such
determination shall, for the purpose of such proceedings, be final.

203 Witness excused from answering incriminating question

No witness in criminal proceedings shall, except as provided by this Act or any other
law, be compelled to answer any question which he would not on the thirtieth day of
May, 1961, have been compelled to answer by reason that the answer may expose
him to a criminal charge.

204 Incriminating evidence by witness for prosecution

(1) Whenever the prosecutor at criminal proceedings informs the court that any
person called as a witness on behalf of the prosecution will be required by the
prosecution to answer questions which may incriminate such witness with regard to an
offence specified by the prosecutor-
(a) the court, if satisfied that such witness is otherwise a competent witness for
the prosecution, shall inform such witness-
(i) that he is obliged to give evidence at the proceedings in question;
(ii) that questions may be put to him which may incriminate him with
regard to the offence specified by the prosecutor;
(iii) that he will be obliged to answer any question put to him, whether
by the prosecution, the accused or the court, notwithstanding that
the answer may incriminate him with regard to the offence so
specified or with regard to any offence in respect of which a verdict
of guilty would be competent upon a charge relating to the offence
so specified;
(iv) that if he answers frankly and honestly all questions put to him, he
shall be discharged from prosecution with regard to the offence so
specified and with regard to any offence in respect of which a
verdict of guilty would be competent upon a charge relating to the
offence so specified; and
(b) such witness shall thereupon give evidence and answer any question put to
him, whether by the prosecution, the accused or the court, notwithstanding
that the reply thereto may incriminate him with regard to the offence so
specified by the prosecutor or with regard to any offence in respect of which
a verdict of guilty would be competent upon a charge relating to the offence
so specified.
(2) If a witness referred to in subsection (1), in the opinion of the court, answers
frankly and honestly all questions put to him-
(a) such witness shall, subject to the provisions of subsection (3), be
discharged from prosecution for the offence so specified by the prosecutor
and for any offence in respect of which a verdict of guilty would be
competent upon a charge relating to the offence so specified; and
(b) the court shall cause such discharge to be entered on the record of the
proceedings in question.
(3) The discharge referred to in subsection (2) shall be of no legal force or effect if it

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is given at preparatory examination proceedings and the witness concerned does

not at any trial arising out of such preparatory examination, answer, in the opinion of
the court, frankly and honestly all questions put to him at such trial, whether by the
prosecution, the accused or the court.
(4) (a) Where a witness gives evidence under this section and is not discharged
from prosecution in respect of the offence in question, such evidence shall not be
admissible in evidence against him at any trial in respect of such offence or any
offence in respect of which a verdict of guilty is competent upon a charge relating to
such offence.
(b) The provisions of this subsection shall not apply with reference to a witness
who is prosecuted for perjury arising from the giving of the evidence in question, or for
a contravention of section 319 (3) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1955 (Act 56 of
1955).
[Para. (b) amended by s. 1 of Act 49 of 1996.]

205 Judge, regional court magistrate or magistrate may take evidence as to

alleged offence
(1) A judge of a High Court, a regional court magistrate or a magistrate may,
subject to the provisions of subsection (4) and section 15 of the Regulation of
Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-related Information
Act, 2002, upon the request of a Director of Public Prosecutions or a public prosecutor
authorized thereto in writing by the Director of Public Prosecutions, require the
attendance before him or her or any other judge, regional court magistrate or
magistrate, for examination by the Director of Public Prosecutions or the public
prosecutor authorized thereto in writing by the Director of Public Prosecutions, of any
person who is likely to give material or relevant information as to any alleged offence,
whether or not it is known by whom the offence was committed: Provided that if such
person furnishes that information to the satisfaction of the Director of Public
Prosecutions or public prosecutor concerned prior to the date on which he or she is
required to appear before a judge, regional court magistrate or magistrate, he or she
shall be under no further obligation to appear before a judge, regional court magistrate
or magistrate.
[Sub-s. (1) substituted by s. 59 of Act 70 of 2002.]

(2) The provisions of sections 162 to 165 inclusive, 179 to 181 inclusive, 187 to 189
inclusive, 191 and 204 shall mutatis mutandis apply with reference to the proceedings
under subsection (1).
(3) The examination of any person under subsection (1) may be conducted in
private at any place designated by the judge, regional court magistrate or magistrate.
(4) A person required in terms of subsection (1) to appear before a judge, a
regional court magistrate or a magistrate for examination, and who refuses or fails to
give the information contemplated in subsection (1), shall not be sentenced to
imprisonment as contemplated in section 189 unless the judge, regional court
magistrate or magistrate concerned, as the case may be, is also of the opinion that the
furnishing of such information is necessary for the administration of justice or the
maintenance of law and order.
[S. 205 substituted by s. 11 of Act 204 of 1993.]

206 The law in cases not provided for

The law as to the competency, compellability or privilege of witnesses which was in
force in respect of criminal proceedings on the thirtieth day of May, 1961, shall apply
in any case not expressly provided for by this Act or any other law.

207 Saving of special provisions in other laws

No provision of this Chapter shall be construed as modifying any provision of any
other law whereby in any criminal proceedings referred to in such law a person is
deemed a competent witness.

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CHAPTER 24
EVIDENCE (ss 208-253)

208 Conviction may follow on evidence of single witness

An accused may be convicted of any offence on the single evidence of any
competent witness.

209 Conviction may follow on confession by accused

An accused may be convicted of any offence on the single evidence of a confession
by such accused that he committed the offence in question, if such confession is
confirmed in a material respect or, where the confession is not so confirmed, if the
offence is proved by evidence, other than such confession, to have been actually
committed.

210 Irrelevant evidence inadmissible

No evidence as to any fact, matter or thing shall be admissible which is irrelevant or
immaterial and which cannot conduce to prove or disprove any point or fact at issue in
criminal proceedings.

211 Evidence during criminal proceedings of previous convictions

Except where otherwise expressly provided by this Act or the Child Justice Act,
2008, or except where the fact of a previous conviction is an element of any offence
with which an accused is charged, evidence shall not be admissible at criminal
proceedings in respect of any offence to prove that an accused at such proceedings
had previously been convicted of any offence, whether in the Republic or elsewhere,
and no accused, if called as a witness, shall be asked whether he or she has been so
convicted.
[S. 211 substituted by s. 99 (1) of Act 75 of 2008.]

212 Proof of certain facts by affidavit or certificate

(1) Whenever in criminal proceedings the question arises whether any particular
act, transaction or occurrence did or did not take place in any particular department or
sub-department of the State or of a provincial administration or in any branch or office
of such department or sub-department or in any particular court of law or in any
particular bank, or the question arises in such proceedings whether any particular
functionary in any such department, sub-department, branch or office did or did not
perform any particular act or did or did not take part in any particular transaction, a
document purporting to be an affidavit made by a person who in that affidavit alleges-
(a) that he is in the service of the State or a provincial administration or of the
bank in question, and that he is employed in the particular department or
sub-department or the particular branch or office thereof or in the particular
court or bank;
(b) that-
(i) if the act, transaction or occurrence in question had taken place in
such department, sub-department, branch or office or in such court
or bank; or
(ii) if such functionary had performed such particular act or had taken
part in such particular transaction,
it would in the ordinary course of events have come to his, the deponent's,
knowledge and a record thereof, available to him, would have been kept;
and
(c) that it has not come to his knowledge-
(i) that such act, transaction or occurrence took place; or
(ii) that such functionary performed such act or took part in such

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transaction,
and that there is no record thereof,
shall, upon its mere production at such proceedings, be prima facie proof that the act,
transaction or occurrence in question did not take place or, as the case may be, that
the functionary concerned did not perform the act in question or did not take part in
the transaction in question.
(2) Whenever in criminal proceedings the question arises whether any person
bearing a particular name did or did not furnish any particular officer in the service of
the State or of a provincial administration with any particular information or document,
a document purporting to be an affidavit made by a person who in that affidavit alleges
that he is the said officer and that no person bearing the said name furnished him with
such information or document, shall, upon its mere production at such proceedings, be
prima facie proof that the said person did not furnish the said officer with any such
information or document.
(3) Whenever in criminal proceedings the question arises whether any matter has
been registered under any law or whether any fact or transaction has been recorded
thereunder or whether anything connected therewith has been done thereunder, a
document purporting to be an affidavit made by a person who in that affidavit alleges
that he is the person upon whom the law in question confers the power or imposes the
duty to register such matter or to record such fact or transaction or to do such thing
connected therewith and that he has registered the matter in question or that he has
recorded the fact or transaction in question or that he has done the thing connected
therewith or that he has satisfied himself that the matter in question was registered or
that the fact or transaction in question was recorded or that the thing connected
therewith was done, shall, upon its mere production at such proceedings, be prima
facie proof that such matter was registered or, as the case may be, that such fact or
transaction was recorded or that the thing connected therewith was done.
[Sub-s. (3) substituted by s. 12 of Act 56 of 1979.]

(4) (a) Whenever any fact established by any examination or process requiring any
skill-
(i) in biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, geography or geology;
(ii) in mathematics, applied mathematics or mathematical statistics or in the
analysis of statistics;
(iii) in computer science or in any discipline of engineering;
(iv) in anatomy or in human behavioural sciences;
(v) in biochemistry, in metallurgy, in microscopy, in any branch of pathology or
in toxicology; or
(vi) in ballistics, in the identification of fingerprints or body-prints or in the
examination of disputed documents,
is or may become relevant to the issue at criminal proceedings, a document purporting
to be an affidavit made by a person who in that affidavit alleges that he or she is in the
service of the State or of a provincial administration or any university in the Republic
or any other body designated by the Minister for the purposes of this subsection by
notice in the Gazette, and that he or she has established such fact by means of such
an examination or process, shall, upon its mere production at such proceedings be
prima facie proof of such fact: Provided that the person who may make such affidavit
may, in any case in which skill is required in chemistry, anatomy or pathology, issue a
certificate in lieu of such affidavit, in which event the provisions of this paragraph shall
mutatis mutandis apply with reference to such certificate.
[Para. (a) amended by ss. 46 and 47 of Act 97 of 1986, by s. 40 of Act 122 of 1991 and by s.
9 of Act 86 of 1996 and substituted by s. 6 of Act 34 of 1998 and by s. 4 (a) of Act 6 of 2010.]
(b) Any person who issues a certificate under paragraph (a) and who in such
certificate wilfully states anything which is false, shall be guilty of an offence and liable
on conviction to the punishment prescribed for the offence of perjury.
(5) Whenever the question as to the existence and nature of a precious metal or

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any precious stone is or may become relevant to the issue in criminal proceedings,
a document purporting to be an affidavit made by a person who in that affidavit alleges
that he is an appraiser of precious metals or precious stones, that he is in the service
of the State, that such precious metal or such precious stone is indeed a precious
metal or a precious stone, as the case may be, that it is a precious metal or a precious
stone of a particular kind and appearance and that the mass or value of such precious
metal or such precious stone is as specified in that affidavit, shall, upon its mere
production at such proceedings, be prima facie proof that it is a precious metal or a
precious stone of a particular kind and appearance and the mass or value of such
precious metal or such precious stone is as so specified.
[Sub-s. (5) substituted by s. 11 of Act 5 of 1991.]

(6) In criminal proceedings in which the finding of or action taken in connection with
any particular fingerprint, body-print, bodily sample or crime scene sample is relevant
to the issue, a document purporting to be an affidavit made by a person who in that
affidavit alleges that he or she is in the service of the State and that he or she is in the
performance of his or her official duties-
(a) found such fingerprint, body-print, bodily sample or crime scene sample at
or in the place or on or in the article or in the position or circumstances
stated in the affidavit; or
(b) dealt with such fingerprint, body-print, bodily sample or crime scene sample
in the manner stated in the affidavit, shall, upon the mere production
thereof at such proceedings, be prima facie proof that such fingerprint,
body-print, bodily sample or crime scene sample, was so found or, as the
case may be, was so dealt with.
[Sub-s. (6) substituted by s. 4 (b) of Act 6 of 2010 and by s. 3 (a) of Act 37 of 2013.]

(7) In criminal proceedings in which the physical condition or the identity, in or at

any hospital, nursing home, ambulance or mortuary, of any deceased person or of any
dead body is relevant to the issue, a document purporting to be an affidavit made by a
person who in that affidavit alleges-
(a) that he is employed at or in connection with the hospital, nursing home,
ambulance or mortuary in question; and
(b) that he during the performance of his official duties observed the physical
characteristics or condition of the deceased person or of the dead body in
question; and
(c) that while the deceased person or the dead body in question was under his
care, such deceased person or such dead body had or sustained the injuries
or wounds described in the affidavit, or sustained no injuries or wounds; or
(d) that he pointed out or handed over the deceased person or the dead body
in question to a specified person or that he left the deceased person or the
dead body in question in the care of a specified person or that the deceased
person or the dead body in question was pointed out or handed over to him
or left in his care by a specified person,
shall, upon the mere production thereof at such proceedings, be prima facie proof of
the matter so alleged.
(8) (a) In criminal proceedings in which the collection, receipt, custody, packing,
marking, delivery or despatch of any fingerprint or body-print, article of clothing,
specimen, bodily sample, crime scene sample, tissue (as defined in section 1 of the
National Health Act), or any object of whatever nature is relevant to the issue, a
document purporting to be an affidavit made by a person who in that affidavit alleges-
(i) that he or she is in the service of the State or of a provincial administration,
any university in the Republic or anybody designated by the Minister under
subsection (4);
(ii) that he or she in the performance of his or her official duties-
(aa) received from any person, institute, state department or body
specified in the affidavit, a fingerprint or body-print, article of

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clothing, specimen, bodily sample, crime scene sample, tissue or object

described in the affidavit, which was packed or marked or, as the
case may be, which he or she packed or marked in the manner
described in the affidavit;
(bb) delivered or despatched to any person, institute, state department
or body specified in the affidavit, a fingerprint or body-print, article
of clothing, specimen, bodily sample, crime scene sample, tissue or
object described in the affidavit, which was packed or marked or,
as the case may be, which he or she packed or marked in the
manner described in the affidavit;
(cc) during a period specified in the affidavit, had a fingerprint or body-
print, article of clothing, specimen, bodily sample, crime scene
sample, tissue or object described in the affidavit in his or her
custody in the manner described in the affidavit, which was packed
or marked in the manner described in the affidavit,
shall, upon the mere production thereof at such proceedings, be prima facie proof of
the matter so alleged: Provided that the person who may make such affidavit in any
case relating to any article of clothing, specimen, bodily sample, crime scene sample or
tissue, may issue a certificate in lieu of such affidavit, in which event the provisions of
this paragraph shall mutatis mutandis apply with reference to such certificate.
[Para. (a) amended by s. 46 of Act 97 of 1986 and substituted by s. 4 (c) of Act 6 of 2010 and
by s. 3 (b) of Act 37 of 2013.]
(b) Any person who issues a certificate under paragraph (a) and who in such
certificate wilfully states anything which is false, shall be guilty of an offence and liable
on conviction to the punishment prescribed for the offence of perjury.
(9) In criminal proceedings in which it is relevant to prove-
(a) the details of any consignment of goods delivered to the Railways
Administration for conveyance to a specified consignee, a document
purporting to be an affidavit made by a person who in that affidavit alleges-
(i) that he consigned the goods set out in the affidavit to a consignee
specified in the affidavit;
(ii) that, on a date specified in the affidavit, he delivered such goods or
caused such goods to be delivered to the Railways Administration
for conveyance to such consignee, and that the consignment note
referred to in such affidavit relates to such goods,
shall, upon the mere production thereof at such proceedings, be prima facie
proof of the matter so alleged; or
(b) that the goods referred to in paragraph (a) were received by the Railways
Administration for conveyance to a specified consignee or that such goods
were handled or transhipped en route by the Railways Administration, a
document purporting to be an affidavit made by a person who in that
affidavit alleges-
(i) that he at all relevant times was in the service of the Railways
Administration in a stated capacity;
(ii) that he in the performance of his official duties received or, as the
case may be, handled or transhipped the goods referred to in the
consignment note referred to in paragraph (a),
shall, upon the mere production thereof at such proceedings, be prima facie
proof of the matter so alleged.
(10) (a) The Minister may in respect of any measuring instrument as defined in
section 1 of the Trade Metrology Act, 1973 (Act 77 of 1973), by notice in the Gazette
prescribe the conditions and requirements which shall be complied with before any
reading by such measuring instrument may be accepted in criminal proceedings as
proof of the fact which it purports to prove, and if the Minister has so prescribed such
conditions and requirements and upon proof that such conditions and requirements

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have been complied with in respect of any particular measuring instrument, the
measuring instrument in question shall, for the purposes of proving the fact which it
purports to prove, be accepted at criminal proceedings as proving the fact recorded by
it, unless the contrary is proved.
(b) An affidavit in which the deponent declares that the conditions and
requirements referred to in paragraph (a) have been complied with in respect of the
measuring instrument in question shall, upon the mere production thereof at the
criminal proceedings in question, be prima facie proof that such conditions and
requirements have been complied with.
(11) (a) The Minister may with reference to any syringe intended for the drawing of
blood or any receptacle intended for the storing of blood, by notice in the Gazette
prescribe the conditions and requirements relating to the cleanliness and sealing or
manner of sealing thereof which shall be complied with before any such syringe or
receptacle may be used in connection with the analysing of the blood of any person for
the purposes of criminal proceedings, and if-
(i) any such syringe or receptacle is immediately before being used for the
said purpose, in a sealed condition, or contained in a holder which is sealed
with a seal or in a manner prescribed by the Minister; and
(ii) any such syringe, receptacle or holder bears an endorsement that the
conditions and requirements prescribed by the Minister have been complied
with in respect of such syringe or receptacle,
proof at criminal proceedings that the seal, as thus prescribed, of such syringe or
receptacle was immediately before the use of such syringe or receptacle for the said
purpose intact, shall be deemed to constitute prima facie proof that the syringe or the
receptacle in question was then free from any substance or contamination which could
materially affect the result of the analysis in question.
(b) An affidavit in which the deponent declares that he had satisfied himself
before using the syringe or receptacle in question-
(i) that the syringe or receptacle was sealed as provided in paragraph (a) (i)
and that the seal was intact immediately before the syringe or receptacle
was used for the said purpose; and
(ii) that the syringe, receptacle or, as the case may be, the holder contained
the endorsement referred to in paragraph (a) (ii),
shall, upon the mere production thereof at the proceedings in question, be prima facie
proof that the syringe or receptacle was so sealed, that the seal was so intact and that
the syringe, receptacle or holder, as the case may be, was so endorsed.
(c) Any person who for the purposes of this subsection makes or causes to be
made a false endorsement on any syringe, receptacle or holder, knowing it to be false,
shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to the punishment prescribed for
the offence of perjury.
(12) The court before which an affidavit or certificate is under any of the preceding
provisions of this section produced as prima facie proof of the relevant contents
thereof, may in its discretion cause the person who made the affidavit or issued the
certificate to be subpoenaed to give oral evidence in the proceedings in question, or
may cause written interrogatories to be submitted to such person for reply, and such
interrogatories and any reply thereto purporting to be a reply from such person, shall
likewise be admissible in evidence at such proceedings.
(13) No provision of this section shall affect any other law under which any
certificate or other document is admissible in evidence, and the provisions of this
section shall be deemed to be additional to and not in substitution of any such law.

212A Proof of certain facts by affidavit from person in foreign country

(1) Whenever in criminal proceedings the question arises whether any particular
act, transaction or occurrence did or did not take place-

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(a) in any particular department or sub-department of a state or territory

outside the Republic;
(b) in any particular department or sub-department of an administration in
such state or territory which is similar to a provincial administration in the
Republic;
(c) in any branch or office of a department or sub-department contemplated in
paragraph (a) or (b);
(d) in any particular court of law in such state or territory; or
(e) in any particular institution in such state or territory which is similar to a
bank in the Republic,
or whenever the question arises in such proceedings whether any particular
functionary in any such department, sub-department, branch, office, court or
institution did or did not perform any particular act or did or did not take part in any
particular transaction, the provisions of subsections (1), (2) and (3) of section 212
shall mutatis mutandis apply: Provided that for the purposes of this section a
document purporting to be an affidavit shall have no effect unless-
(a) it is obtained in terms of an order of a competent court or on the authority
of a competent government institution of the state or territory concerned,
as the case may be;
(b) it is authenticated in the manner prescribed in the rules of court for the
authentication of documents executed outside the Republic; or
(c) it is authenticated by a person, and in the manner, contemplated in section
8 of the Justices of the Peace and Commissioners of Oaths Act, 1963 (Act
16 of 1963).
(2) The admissibility and evidentiary value of an affidavit contemplated in
subsection (1) shall not be affected by the fact that the form of the oath, confirmation
or attestation thereof differs from the form of the oath, confirmation or attestation
prescribed in the Republic.
(3) A court before which an affidavit contemplated in subsection (1) is placed, may,
in order to clarify obscurities in the said affidavit, at the request of a party to the
proceedings order that a supplementary affidavit be submitted or that oral evidence be
heard: Provided that oral evidence shall only be heard if the court is of the opinion that
it is in the interests of the administration of justice and that a party to the proceedings
would be materially prejudiced should oral evidence not be heard.
[S. 212A inserted by s. 5 of Act 157 of 1993.]

212B Proof of undisputed facts

(1) If an accused has appointed a legal adviser and, at any stage during the
proceedings, it appears to a public prosecutor that a particular fact or facts which must
be proved in a charge against an accused is or are not in issue or will not be placed in
issue in criminal proceedings against the accused, he or she may, notwithstanding
section 220, forward or hand a notice to the accused or his or her legal adviser setting
out that fact or those facts and stating that such fact or facts shall be deemed to have
been proved at the proceedings unless notice is given that any such fact will be placed
in issue.
(2) The first-mentioned notice contemplated in subsection (1) shall be sent by
certified mail or handed to the accused or his or her legal adviser personally at least 14
days before the commencement of the criminal proceedings or the date set for the
continuation of the proceedings or within such shorter period as may be condoned by
the court or agreed upon by the accused or his or her legal adviser and the prosecutor.
(3) If any fact mentioned in such notice is intended to be placed in issue at the
proceedings, the accused or his or her legal representative shall at least five days
before the commencement or the date set for the continuation of the proceedings or
within such shorter period as may be condoned by the court or agreed upon with the
prosecutor deliver a notice in writing to that effect to the registrar or the clerk of the

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court, as the case may be, or orally notify the registrar or the clerk of the court to
that effect in which case the registrar or the clerk of the court shall record such notice.
(4) If, after receipt of the first-mentioned notice contemplated in subsection (1),
any fact mentioned in that notice is not placed in issue as contemplated in subsection
(3), the court may deem such fact or facts, subject to the provisions of subsections (5)
and (6), to have been sufficiently proved at the proceedings concerned.
(5) If a notice was forwarded or handed over by a prosecutor as contemplated in
subsection (1), the prosecutor shall notify the court at the commencement of the
proceedings of such fact and of the reaction thereto, if any, and the court shall
thereupon institute an investigation into such of the facts which are not disputed and
enquire from the accused whether he or she confirms the information given by the
prosecutor and whether he or she understands his or her rights and the implications of
the procedure and where the legal adviser of the accused replies to any question by
the court under this section, the accused shall be required by the court to declare
whether he or she confirms such reply or not.
(6) The court may on its own initiative or at the request of the accused order oral
evidence to be adduced regarding any fact contemplated in subsection (4).
[S. 212B inserted by s. 10 of Act 86 of 1996.]

213 Proof of written statement by consent

(1) In criminal proceedings a written statement by any person, other than an
accused at such proceedings, shall, subject to the provisions of subsection (2), be
admissible as evidence to the same extent as oral evidence to the same effect by such
person.
(2) (a) The statement shall purport to be signed by the person who made it, and
shall contain a declaration by such person to the effect that it is true to the best of his
knowledge and belief and that he made the statement knowing that, if it were
tendered in evidence, he would be liable to prosecution if he wilfully stated in it
anything which he knew to be false or which he did not believe to be true.
(b) If the person who makes the statement cannot read it, it shall be read to him
before he signs it, and an endorsement shall be made thereon by the person who so
read the statement to the effect that it was so read.
(c) A copy of the statement, together with a copy of any document referred to in
the statement as an exhibit, or with such information as may be necessary in order to
enable the party on whom it is served to inspect such document or a copy thereof,
shall, before the date on which the document is to be tendered in evidence, be served
on each of the other parties to the proceedings, and any such party may, at least two
days before the commencement of the proceedings, object to the statement being
tendered in evidence under this section.
(d) If a party objects under paragraph (c) that the statement in question be
tendered in evidence, the statement shall not, but subject to the provisions of
paragraph (e), be admissible as evidence under this section.
(e) If a party does not object under paragraph (c) or if the parties agree before
or during the proceedings in question that the statement may be so tendered, the
statement may, upon the mere production thereof at such proceedings, be admitted as
evidence in the proceedings.
(f) When the documents referred to in paragraph (c) are served on an accused,
the documents shall be accompanied by a written notification in which the accused is
informed that the statement in question will be tendered in evidence at his trial in lieu
of the State calling as a witness the person who made the statement but that such
statement shall not without the consent of the accused be so tendered in evidence if
he notifies the prosecutor concerned, at least two days before the commencement of
the proceedings, that he objects to the statement so being tendered in evidence.
(3) The parties to criminal proceedings may, before or during such proceedings,
agree that any written statement referred to in subsections (2) (a) and (b) which has

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not been served in terms of subsection (2) (c) be tendered in evidence at such
proceedings, whereupon such statement may, upon the mere production thereof at
such proceedings, be admitted as evidence in the proceedings.
(4) Notwithstanding that a written statement made by any person may be
admissible as evidence under this section-
(a) a party by whom or on whose behalf a copy of the statement was served,
may call such person to give oral evidence;
(b) the court may, of its own motion, and shall, upon the application of any
party to the proceedings in question, cause such person to be subpoenaed
to give oral evidence before the court or the court may, where the person
concerned is resident outside the Republic, issue a commission in respect of
such person in terms of section 171.
(5) Any document or object referred to as an exhibit and identified in a written
statement tendered in evidence under this section, shall be treated as if it had been
produced as an exhibit and identified in court by the person who made the statement.
(6) Any person who makes a statement which is admitted as evidence under this
section and who in such statement wilfully and falsely states anything which, if sworn,
would have amounted to the offence of perjury, shall be deemed to have committed
the offence of perjury and shall, upon conviction, be liable to the punishment
prescribed for the offence of perjury.

214 Evidence recorded at preparatory examination admissible at trial in

certain circumstances
The evidence of any witness recorded at a preparatory examination-
(a) shall be admissible in evidence on the trial of the accused following upon
such preparatory examination, if it is proved to the satisfaction of the court-
(i) that the witness is dead;
(ii) that the witness is incapable of giving evidence;
(iii) that the witness is too ill to attend the trial; or
(iv) that the witness is being kept away from the trial by the means and
contrivance of the accused; and
(v) that the evidence tendered is the evidence recorded before the
magistrate or, as the case may be, the regional magistrate,
and if it appears from the preparatory examination record or it is proved to
the satisfaction of the court that the accused or, as the case may be, the
State had a full opportunity of cross-examining such witness;
(b) may, if such witness cannot, after a diligent search, be found for purposes
of the trial of the accused following upon such preparatory examination, or
cannot be compelled to attend such trial, in the discretion of the court, but
subject to the provisions of subparagraph (v) of paragraph (a), be read as
evidence at such trial, if it appears from the preparatory examination record
or it is proved to the satisfaction of the court that the accused or, as the
case may be, the State had a full opportunity of cross-examining such
witness.

215 Evidence recorded at former trial admissible at later trial in certain

circumstances
The evidence of a witness given at a former trial may, in the circumstances referred
to in section 214, mutatis mutandis be admitted in evidence at any later trial of the
same person upon the same charge.

216 ......
[S. 216 repealed by s. 9 of Act 45 of 1988.]

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217 Admissibility of confession by accused

(1) Evidence of any confession made by any person in relation to the commission of
any offence shall, if such confession is proved to have been freely and voluntarily
made by such person in his sound and sober senses and without having been unduly
influenced thereto, be admissible in evidence against such person at criminal
proceedings relating to such offence: Provided-
(a) that a confession made to a peace officer, other than a magistrate or
justice, or, in the case of a peace officer referred to in section 334, a
confession made to such peace officer which relates to an offence with
reference to which such peace officer is authorized to exercise any power
conferred upon him under that section, shall not be admissible in evidence
unless confirmed and reduced to writing in the presence of a magistrate or
justice; and
[NB: Para. (a) has been substituted by s. 11 of the Criminal Procedure Amendment Act 86 of
1996, a provision which will be put into operation by proclamation. See PENDLEX.]
(b) that where the confession is made to a magistrate and reduced to writing
by him, or is confirmed and reduced to writing in the presence of a
magistrate, the confession shall, upon the mere production thereof at the
proceedings in question-
(i) be admissible in evidence against such person if it appears from
the document in which the confession is contained that the
confession was made by a person whose name corresponds to that
of such person and, in the case of a confession made to a
magistrate or confirmed in the presence of a magistrate through an
interpreter, if a certificate by the interpreter appears on such
documents to the effect that he interpreted truly and correctly and
to the best of his ability with regard to the contents of the
confession and any question put to such person by the magistrate;
and
[Sub-para. (i) substituted by s. 13 of Act 56 of 1979.]
(ii) be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, to have been freely
and voluntarily made by such person in his sound and sober senses
and without having been unduly influenced thereto, if it appears
from the document in which the confession is contained that the
confession was made freely and voluntarily by such person in his
sound and sober senses and without having been unduly influenced
thereto.
(2) The prosecution may lead evidence in rebuttal of evidence adduced by an
accused in rebuttal of the presumption under proviso (b) to subsection (1).
(3) Any confession which is under subsection (1) inadmissible in evidence against
the person who made it, shall become admissible against him-
(a) if he adduces in the relevant proceedings any evidence, either directly or in
cross-examining any witness, of any oral or written statement made by him
either as part of or in connection with such confession; and
(b) if such evidence is, in the opinion of the judge or the judicial officer
presiding at such proceedings, favourable to such person.

218 Admissibility of facts discovered by means of inadmissible confession

(1) Evidence may be admitted at criminal proceedings of any fact otherwise
admissible in evidence, notwithstanding that the witness who gives evidence of such
fact, discovered such fact, or obtained knowledge of such fact only in consequence of
information given by an accused appearing at such proceedings in any confession or
statement which by law is not admissible in evidence against such accused at such
proceedings, and notwithstanding that the fact was discovered or came to the
knowledge of such witness against the wish or will of such accused.

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(2) Evidence may be admitted at criminal proceedings that anything was pointed
out by an accused appearing at such proceedings or that any fact or thing was
discovered in consequence of information given by such accused, notwithstanding that
such pointing out or information forms part of a confession or statement which by law
is not admissible in evidence against such accused at such proceedings.

219 Confession not admissible against another

No confession made by any person shall be admissible as evidence against another
person.

219A Admissibility of admission by accused

(1) Evidence of any admission made extra-judicially by any person in relation to the
commission of an offence shall, if such admission does not constitute a confession of
that offence and is proved to have been voluntarily made by that person, be admissible
in evidence against him at criminal proceedings relating to that offence: Provided that
where the admission is made to a magistrate and reduced to writing by him or is
confirmed and reduced to writing in the presence of a magistrate, the admission shall,
upon the mere production at the proceedings in question of the document in which the
admission is contained-
(a) be admissible in evidence against such person if it appears from such
document that the admission was made by a person whose name
corresponds to that of such person and, in the case of an admission made
to a magistrate or confirmed in the presence of a magistrate through an
interpreter, if a certificate by the interpreter appears on such document to
the effect that he interpreted truly and correctly and to the best of his
ability with regard to the contents of the admission and any question put to
such person by the magistrate; and
(b) be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, to have been voluntarily made
by such person if it appears from the document in which the admission is
contained that the admission was made voluntarily by such person.
(2) The prosecution may lead evidence in rebuttal of evidence adduced by an
accused in rebuttal of the presumption under subsection (1).
[S. 219A inserted by s. 14 of Act 56 of 1979.]

220 Admissions
An accused or his or her legal adviser or the prosecutor may in criminal proceedings
admit any fact placed in issue at such proceedings and any such admission shall be
sufficient proof of such fact.
[S. 220 substituted by s. 12 of Act 86 of 1996.]

221 Admissibility of certain trade or business records

(1) In criminal proceedings in which direct oral evidence of a fact would be
admissible, any statement contained in a document and tending to establish that fact
shall, upon production of the document, be admissible as evidence of that fact if-
(a) the document is or forms part of a record relating to any trade or business
and has been compiled in the course of that trade or business, from
information supplied, directly or indirectly, by persons who have or may
reasonably be supposed to have personal knowledge of the matters dealt
with in the information they supply; and
(b) the person who supplied the information recorded in the statement in
question is dead or is outside the Republic or is unfit by reason of his
physical or mental condition to attend as a witness or cannot with
reasonable diligence be identified or found or cannot reasonably be
expected, having regard to the time which has elapsed since he supplied
the information as well as all the circumstances, to have any recollection of
the matters dealt with in the information he supplied.

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(2) For the purpose of deciding whether or not a statement is admissible as

evidence under this section, the court may draw any reasonable inference from the
form or content of the document in which the statement is contained, and may, in
deciding whether or not a person is fit to attend as a witness, act on a certificate
purporting to be a certificate of a registered medical practitioner.
(3) In estimating the weight to be attached to a statement admissible as evidence
under this section, regard shall be had to all the circumstances from which any
inference may reasonably be drawn as to the accuracy or otherwise of the statement,
and, in particular, to the question whether or not the person who supplied the
information recorded in the statement, did so contemporaneously with the occurrence
or existence of the facts stated, and to the question whether or not that person or any
person concerned with making or keeping the record containing the statement, had
any incentive to conceal or misrepresent the facts.
(4) No provision of this section shall prejudice the admissibility of any evidence
which would be admissible apart from the provisions of this section.
(5) In this section-
'business' includes any public transport, public utility or similar undertaking
carried on by a local authority, and the activities of the Post Office and the Railways
Administration;
'document' includes any device by means of which information is recorded or
stored; and
'statement' includes any representation of fact, whether made in words or
otherwise.

222 Application to criminal proceedings of certain provisions of Civil

Proceedings Evidence Act, 1965, relating to documentary evidence
The provisions of sections 33 to 38 inclusive, of the Civil Proceedings Evidence Act,
1965 (Act 25 of 1965), shall mutatis mutandis apply with reference to criminal
proceedings.

223 ......
[S. 223 repealed by s. 9 of Act 45 of 1988.]

224 Judicial notice of laws and other published matter

Judicial notice shall in criminal proceedings be taken of-
(a) any law or any matter published in a publication which purports to be the
Gazette or the Official Gazette of any province;
[Para. (a) amended by s. 1 of Act 49 of 1996.]
(b) any law which purports to be published under the superintendence or
authority of the Government Printer.

225 Evidence of prints, bodily samples or bodily appearance of accused

(1) Whenever it is relevant at criminal proceedings to ascertain whether-
(a) any fingerprint, body-print or bodily sample, as defined under Chapter 3, or
the information derived from such prints or samples, of an accused at such
proceedings corresponds to any other fingerprint, body-print, bodily
sample, crime scene sample or the information derived from such samples;
or
(b) the body of such an accused has or had any mark, characteristic or
distinguishing feature or shows or showed any condition or appearance,
evidence of the fingerprints or body-prints of the accused or that the body of the
accused has or had any mark, characteristic or distinguishing feature or shows or
showed any condition or appearance, including evidence of the result of any blood test
of the accused, shall be admissible at such proceedings.

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(2) Such evidence shall not be inadmissible by reason only thereof that the
fingerprint, body-print, or bodily sample as defined in Chapter 3, in question was not
taken or that the mark, characteristic, feature, condition or appearance in question
was not ascertained in accordance with the provisions of sections 36A, 36B, 36C, 36D,
36E or 37, or that it was taken or ascertained against the wish or the will of the
accused concerned.
[S. 225 substituted by s. 5 of Act 6 of 2010 and by s. 4 of Act 37 of 2013.]

226 Evidence of no sexual intercourse between spouses admissible

For the purposes of rebutting the presumption that a child to whom a married
woman has given birth is the offspring of her husband, such woman or her husband,
such woman or her husband or both of them may in criminal proceedings give
evidence that they had no sexual intercourse with one another during the period when
the child was conceived.

227 Evidence of character and previous sexual experience

(1) Evidence as to the character of an accused or as to the character of any person
against or in connection with whom a sexual offence as contemplated in the Criminal
Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007, is alleged to have
been committed, shall, subject to the provisions of subsection (2), be admissible or
inadmissible if such evidence would have been admissible or inadmissible on the 30th
day of May, 1961.
(2) No evidence as to any previous sexual experience or conduct of any person
against or in connection with whom a sexual offence is alleged to have been
committed, other than evidence relating to sexual experience or conduct in respect of
the offence which is being tried, shall be adduced, and no evidence or question in cross
examination regarding such sexual experience or conduct, shall be put to such person,
the accused or any other witness at the proceedings pending before the court unless-
(a) the court has, on application by any party to the proceedings, granted leave
to adduce such evidence or to put such question; or
(b) such evidence has been introduced by the prosecution.
(3) Before an application for leave contemplated in subsection (2) (a) is heard, the
court may direct that any person, including the complainant, whose presence is not
necessary may not be present at the proceedings.
(4) The court shall, subject to subsection (6), grant the application referred to in
subsection (2) (a) only if satisfied that such evidence or questioning is relevant to the
proceedings pending before the court.
(5) In determining whether evidence or questioning as contemplated in this section
is relevant to the proceedings pending before the court, the court shall take into
account whether such evidence or questioning-
(a) is in the interests of justice, with due regard to the accused's right to a fair
trial;
(b) is in the interests of society in encouraging the reporting of sexual offences;
(c) relates to a specific instance of sexual activity relevant to a fact in issue;
(d) is likely to rebut evidence previously adduced by the prosecution;
(e) is fundamental to the accused's defence;
(f) is not substantially outweighed by its potential prejudice to the
complainant's personal dignity and right to privacy; or
(g) is likely to explain the presence of semen or the source of pregnancy or
disease or any injury to the complainant, where it is relevant to a fact in
issue.
(6) The court shall not grant an application referred to in subsection (2) (a) if, in its
opinion, such evidence or questioning is sought to be adduced to support an inference

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that by reason of the sexual nature of the complainant's experience or conduct, the
complainant-
(a) is more likely to have consented to the offence being tried; or
(b) is less worthy of belief.
(7) The court shall provide reasons for granting or refusing an application in terms
of subsection (2) (a), which reasons shall be entered in the record of the proceedings.
[S. 227 substituted by s. 2 of Act 39 of 1989 and by s. 68 of Act 32 of 2007.]

228 Evidence of disputed writing

Comparison at criminal proceedings of a disputed writing with any writing proved to
be genuine, may be made by a witness, and such writings and the evidence of any
witness with respect thereto, may be submitted as proof of the genuineness or
otherwise of the writing in dispute.

229 Evidence of times of sunrise and sunset

(1) The Minister may from time to time by notice in the Gazette approve of tables
prepared at any official observatory in the Republic of the times of sunrise and sunset
on particular days at particular places in the Republic or any portion thereof, and
appearing in any publication specified in the notice, and thereupon such tables shall,
until the notice is withdrawn, on the mere production thereof in criminal proceedings
be admissible as proof of such times.
(2) Tables in force immediately prior to the commencement of this Act by virtue of
the provisions of section 26 of the General Law Amendment Act, 1952 (Act 32 of
1952), shall be deemed to be tables approved under subsection (1) of this section.

230 Evidence and sufficiency of evidence of appointment to public office

Any evidence which, on the thirtieth day of May, 1961-
(a) would have been admissible as proof of the appointment of any person to
any public office or of the authority of any person to act as a public officer,
shall be admissible in evidence in criminal proceedings;
(b) would have been deemed sufficient proof of the appointment of any person
to any public office or of the authority of any person to act as a public
officer, shall in criminal proceedings be deemed to be sufficient proof of
such appointment or authority.

231 Evidence of signature of public officer

Any document-
(a) which purports to bear the signature of any person holding a public office;
and
(b) which bears a seal or stamp purporting to be a seal or stamp of the
department, office or institution to which such person is attached,
shall, upon the mere production thereof at criminal proceedings, be prima facie proof
that such person signed such document.

232 Article may be proved in evidence by means of photograph thereof

(1) Any court may in respect of any article, other than a document, which any party
to criminal proceedings may wish to produce to the court as admissible evidence at
such proceedings, permit such party to produce as evidence, in lieu of such article, any
photograph thereof, notwithstanding that such article is available and can be produced
in evidence.
(2) The court may, notwithstanding the admission under subsection (1) of the
photograph of any article, on good cause require the production of the article in
question.

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233 Proof of public documents

(1) Whenever any book or other document is of such a public nature as to be
admissible in evidence upon its mere production from proper custody, any copy thereof
or extract therefrom shall be admissible in evidence at criminal proceedings if it is
proved to be an examined copy or extract, or if it purports to be signed and certified as
a true copy or extract by the officer to whose custody the original is entrusted.
(2) Such officer shall furnish such certified copy or extract to any person applying
therefor, upon payment of an amount in accordance with the tariff of fees prescribed
by or under any law or, if no such tariff has been so prescribed, an amount in
accordance with such tariff of fees as the Minister, in consultation with the Minister of
Finance, may from time to time determine.

234 Proof of official documents

(1) It shall, at criminal proceedings, be sufficient to prove an original official
document which is in the custody or under the control of any State official by virtue of
his office, if a copy thereof or an extract therefrom, certified as a true copy or extract
by the head of the department concerned or by any State official authorized thereto by
such head, is produced in evidence at such proceedings.
(2) (a) An original official document referred to in subsection (1), other than the
record of judicial proceedings, may be produced at criminal proceedings only upon the
order of the attorney-general.
(b) It shall not be necessary for the head of the department concerned to appear
in person to produce an original document under paragraph (a), but such document
may be produced by any person authorized thereto by such head.
(3) Any official who, under subsection (1), certifies any copy or extract as true
knowing that such copy or extract is false, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on
conviction to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years.

235 Proof of judicial proceedings

(1) It shall, at criminal proceedings, be sufficient to prove the original record of
judicial proceedings if a copy of such record, certified or purporting to be certified by
the registrar or clerk of the court or other officer having the custody of the record of
such judicial proceedings or by the deputy of such registrar, clerk or other officer or, in
the case where judicial proceedings are taken down in shorthand or by mechanical
means, by the person who transcribed such proceedings, as a true copy of such
record, is produced in evidence at such criminal proceedings, and such copy shall be
prima facie proof that any matter purporting to be recorded thereon was correctly
recorded.
(2) Any person who, under subsection (1), certifies any copy as true knowing that
such copy is false, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to
imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years.

236 Proof of entries in accounting records and documentation of banks

(1) The entries in the accounting records of a bank, and any document which is in
the possession of any bank and which refers to the said entries or to any business
transaction of the bank, shall, upon the mere production at criminal proceedings of a
document purporting to be an affidavit made by any person who in that affidavit
alleges-
(a) that he is in the service of the bank in question;
(b) that such accounting records or document is or has been the ordinary
records or document of such bank;
[Para. (b) substituted by s. 12 (a) of Act 204 of 1993.]
(c) that the said entries have been made in the usual and ordinary course of
the business of such bank or the said document has been compiled, printed

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or obtained in the usual and ordinary course of the business of such bank; and
(d) that such accounting records or document is in the custody or under the
control of such bank,
[Para. (d) substituted by s. 12 (b) of Act 204 of 1993.]

be prima facie proof at such proceedings of the matters, transactions and accounts
recorded in such accounting records or document.
(2) Any entry in any accounting record referred to in subsection (1) or any
document referred to in subsection (1) may be proved at criminal proceedings upon
the mere production at such proceedings of a document purporting to be an affidavit
made by any person who in that affidavit alleges-
(a) that he is in the service of the bank in question;
(b) that he has examined the entry, accounting record or document in
question; and
(c) that a copy of such entry or document set out in the affidavit or in an
annexure thereto is a correct copy of such entry or document.
(3) Any party at the proceedings in question against whom evidence is adduced in
terms of this section or against whom it is intended to adduce evidence in terms of this
section, may, upon the order of the court before which the proceedings are pending,
inspect the original of the document or entry in question and any accounting record in
which such entry appears or of which such entry forms part, and such party may make
copies of such document or entry, and the court shall, upon the application of the
party concerned, adjourn the proceedings for the purpose of such inspection or the
making of such copies.
(4) No bank shall be compelled to produce any accounting record referred to in
subsection (1) at any criminal proceedings, unless the court concerned orders that any
such record be produced.
(5) In this section-
'document' includes a recording or transcribed computer printout produced by any
mechanical or electronic device and any device by means of which information is
recorded or stored; and
'entry' includes any notation in the accounting records of a bank by any means
whatsoever.
[S. 236 substituted by s. 45 of Act 129 of 1993.]

236A Proof of entries in accounting records and documentation of banks in

countries outside Republic
(1) The entries in the accounting records of an institution in a state or territory
outside the Republic which is similar to a bank in the Republic, and any document
which is in the possession of such an institution and which refers to the said entries or
to any business transaction of the institution, shall, upon the mere production at
criminal proceedings of a document purporting to be an affidavit made by any person
who in that affidavit alleges-
(a) that he is in the service of the institution in question;
(b) that such accounting records or document are or were the ordinary records
or document of the institution;
(c) that the said entries have been made in the usual and ordinary course of
the business of such institution; and
(d) that such accounting records are or document is in the custody or under the
control of such institution,
be prima facie proof at such proceedings of the matters, transactions and accounts
recorded in such accounting records or document.
(2) Any entry in any accounting record contemplated in subsection (1) or any

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document contemplated in subsection (1) may be proved at criminal proceedings

upon the mere production at such proceedings of a document purporting to be an
affidavit made by any person who in that affidavit alleges-
(a) that he is in the service of the institution in question;
(b) that he has examined the entry, accounting record or document in
question; and
(c) that a copy of such entry or document set out in the affidavit or in an
annexure thereto is a correct copy of such entry or document.
(3) A document purporting to be an affidavit shall for the purposes of this section
have no effect unless-
(a) it is obtained in terms of an order of a competent court or on the authority
of a competent government institution of the state or territory concerned,
as the case may be;
(b) it is authenticated in the manner prescribed in the rules of court for the
authentication of documents executed outside the Republic; or
(c) it is authenticated by a person, and in the manner, contemplated in section
8 of the Justices of the Peace and Commissioners of Oaths Act, 1963 (Act
16 of 1963).
(4) The admissibility and evidentiary value of an affidavit contemplated in
subsections (1) and (2) shall not be affected by the fact that the form of the oath,
confirmation or attestation thereof differs from the form of the oath, confirmation or
attestation prescribed in the Republic.
(5) A court before which an affidavit contemplated in subsections (1) and (2) is
placed may, in order to clarify obscurities in the said affidavit, on the request of a
party to the proceedings order that a supplementary affidavit be submitted or that oral
evidence be heard: Provided that oral evidence shall only be heard if the court is of the
opinion that it is in the interests of the administration of justice and that a party to the
proceedings would be materially prejudiced should oral evidence not be heard.
(6) In this section-
'document' includes a recording or transcribed computer printout produced by any
mechanical or electronic device and any device by means of which information is
recorded or stored; and
'entry' includes any notation, by any means whatsoever, in the accounting records
of an institution contemplated in subsection (1).
[S. 236A inserted by s. 6 of Act 157 of 1993.]

237 Evidence on charge of bigamy

(1) At criminal proceedings at which an accused is charged with bigamy, it shall, as
soon as it is proved that a marriage ceremony, other than the ceremony relating to the
alleged bigamous marriage, took place within the Republic between the accused and
another person, be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, that the marriage was on
the date of the solemnization thereof lawful and binding.
(2) At criminal proceedings at which an accused is charged with bigamy, it shall be
presumed, unless the contrary is proved, that at the time of the solemnization of the
alleged bigamous marriage there subsisted between the accused and another person a
lawful and binding marriage-
(a) if there is produced at such proceedings, in any case in which the marriage
is alleged to have been solemnized within the Republic, an extract from the
marriage register which purports-
(i) to be a duplicate original or a copy of the marriage register relating
to such marriage; and
(ii) to be certified as such a duplicate original or such a copy by the
person having the custody of such marriage register or by a

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registrar of marriages;
(b) if there is produced at such proceedings, in any case in which the marriage
is alleged to have been solemnized outside the Republic, a document which
purports-
(i) to be an extract from a marriage register kept according to law in
the country where the marriage is alleged to have been
solemnized; and
(ii) to be certified as such an extract by the person having the custody
of such register, if the signature of such person on the certificate is
authenticated in accordance with any law of the Republic governing
the authentication of documents executed outside the Republic.
(3) At criminal proceedings at which an accused is charged with bigamy, evidence-
(a) that shortly before the alleged bigamous marriage the accused had been
cohabiting with the person to whom he is alleged to be lawfully married;
(b) that the accused had been treating and recognizing such person as a
spouse; and
(c) of the performance of a marriage ceremony between the accused and such
person,
shall, as soon as the alleged bigamous marriage, wherever solemnized, has been
proved, be prima facie proof that there was a lawful and binding marriage subsisting
between the accused and such person at the time of the solemnization of the alleged
bigamous marriage.

238 Evidence of relationship on charge of incest

(1) At criminal proceedings at which an accused is charged with incest as
contemplated in section 12 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters)
Amendment Act, 2007-
(a) it shall be sufficient to prove that the person against whom or by whom the
offence is alleged to have been committed, is reputed to be the lineal
ascendant or descendant or the sister, brother, stepmother, stepfather,
stepdaughter or stepson of the other party to the incest;
(b) the accused shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, to have had
knowledge, at the time of the alleged offence, of the relationship existing
between him or her and the other party to the incest.
[Sub-s. (1) substituted by s. 68 of Act 32 of 2007.]

(2) Whenever the fact that any lawful and binding marriage was contracted is
relevant to the issue at criminal proceedings at which an accused is charged with
incest as contemplated in section 12 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related
Matters) Amendment Act, 2007, such fact may be proved prima facie in the manner
provided in section 237 for the proof of the existence of a lawful and binding marriage
of a person charged with bigamy.
[Sub-s. (2) substituted by s. 68 of Act 32 of 2007.]

239 Evidence on charge of infanticide or concealment of birth

(1) At criminal proceedings at which an accused is charged with the killing of a
newly-born child, such child shall be deemed to have been born alive if the child is
proved to have breathed, whether or not the child had an independent circulation, and
it shall not be necessary to prove that such child was, at the time of its death, entirely
separated from the body of its mother.
(2) At criminal proceedings at which an accused is charged with the concealment of
the birth of a child, it shall not be necessary to prove whether the child died before or
at or after birth.

240 Evidence on charge of receiving stolen property

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(1) At criminal proceedings at which an accused is charged with receiving stolen

property which he knew to be stolen property, evidence may be given at any stage of
the proceedings that the accused was, within the period of twelve months immediately
preceding the date on which he first appeared in a magistrate's court in respect of such
charge, found in possession of other stolen property: Provided that no such evidence
shall be given against the accused unless at least three days' notice in writing has been
given to him that it is intended to adduce such evidence against him.
(2) The evidence referred to in subsection (1) may be taken into consideration for
the purpose of proving that the accused knew that the property which forms the
subject of the charge was stolen property.
(3) Where the accused is proved to have received the property which is the subject
of the charge, from a person under the age of eighteen years, he shall be presumed to
have known at the time when he received such property that it was stolen property,
unless it is proved-
(a) that the accused was at that time under the age of twenty-one years; or
(b) that the accused had good cause, other than the mere statement of the
person from whom he received such property, to believe, and that he did
believe, that such person had the right to dispose of such property.

241 Evidence of previous conviction on charge of receiving stolen property

If at criminal proceedings at which an accused is charged with receiving stolen
property which he knew to be stolen property, it is proved that such property was
found in the possession of the accused, evidence may at any stage of the proceedings
be given that the accused was, within the five years immediately preceding the date on
which he first appeared in a magistrate's court in respect of such charge, convicted of
an offence involving fraud or dishonesty, and such evidence may be taken into
consideration for the purpose of proving that the accused knew that the property found
in his possession was stolen property: Provided that not less than three days' notice in
writing shall be given to the accused that it is intended to adduce evidence of such
previous conviction.

242 Evidence on charge of defamation

If at criminal proceedings at which an accused is charged with the unlawful
publication of defamatory matter which is contained in a periodical, it is proved that
such periodical or the part in which such defamatory matter is contained, was
published by the accused, other writings or prints purporting to be other numbers or
parts of the same periodical, previously or subsequently published, and containing a
printed statement that they were published by or for the accused, shall be admissible
in evidence without further proof of their publication.

243 Evidence of receipt of money or property and general deficiency on

charge of theft
(1) At criminal proceedings at which an accused is charged with theft-
(a) while employed in any capacity in the service of the State, of money or of
property which belonged to the State or which came into the possession of
the accused by virtue of his employment;
(b) while a clerk, servant or agent, of money or of property which belonged to
his employer or principal or which came into the possession of the accused
on account of his employer or principal,
an entry in any book of account kept by the accused or kept under or subject to his
charge or supervision, and which purports to be an entry of the receipt of money or of
property, shall be proof that such money or such property was received by the
accused.
(2) It shall not be necessary at proceedings referred to in subsection (1) to prove
the theft by the accused of a specific sum of money or of specific goods, if-

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(a) on the examination of the books of account kept or the entries made by the
accused or under or subject to his charge or supervision, there is proof of a
general deficiency; and
(b) the court is satisfied that the accused stole the money or goods so deficient
or any part thereof.

244 Evidence on charge relating to seals and stamps

At criminal proceedings at which an accused is charged with any offence relating to
any seal or stamp used for the purposes of the public revenue or of the post office in
any foreign country, a despatch purporting to be from the officer administering the
government of such country and transmitting to the State President any stamp, mark
or impression and stating it to be a genuine stamp, mark or impression of a die-plate
or other instrument provided or made or used by or under the direction of the proper
authority of such country for the purpose of denoting stamp duty or postal charge,
shall on its mere production at such proceedings be prima facie proof of the facts
stated in the despatch.

22
245 Evidence on charge of which false representation is element
If at criminal proceedings at which an accused is charged with an offence of which a
false representation is an element, it is proved that the false representation was made
by the accused, he shall be deemed, unless the contrary is proved, to have made such
representation knowing it to be false.
22 In S v Coetzee and Others 1997 (1) SACR 379 (CC) & 1997 (3) SA 527 (CC) the Constitutional
Court declared section 245 inconsistent with the Constitution and therefore invalid

246 Presumptions relating to certain documents

Any document, including any book, pamphlet, letter, circular letter, list, record,
placard or poster, which was at any time on premises occupied by any association of
persons, incorporated or unincorporated, or in the possession or under the control of
any office-bearer, officer or member of such association, and-
(a) on the face whereof a person of a name corresponding to that of an
accused person appears to be a member or an office-bearer of such
association, shall, upon the mere production thereof by the prosecution at
criminal proceedings, be prima facie proof that the accused is a member or
an office-bearer of such association, as the case may be;
(b) on the face whereof a person of a name corresponding to that of an
accused person who is or was a member of such association, appears to be
the author of such document, shall, upon the mere production thereof by
the prosecution at criminal proceedings, be prima facie proof that the
accused is the author thereof;
(c) which on the face thereof appears to be the minutes or a copy of or an
extract from the minutes of a meeting of such association or of any
committee thereof, shall, upon the mere production thereof by the
prosecution at criminal proceedings, be prima facie proof of the holding of
such meeting and of the proceedings thereat;
(d) which on the face thereof discloses any object of such association, shall,
upon the mere production thereof by the prosecution at criminal
proceedings, be prima facie proof that the said object is an object of such
association.

247 Presumptions relating to absence from Republic of certain persons

Any document, including any newspaper, periodical, book, pamphlet, letter, circular
letter, list, record, placard or poster, on the face whereof it appears that a person of a

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name corresponding to that of an accused person has at any particular time been
outside the Republic or has at any particular time made any statement outside the
Republic, shall, upon the mere production thereof by the prosecution at criminal
proceedings, be prima facie proof that the accused was outside the Republic at such
time or, as the case may be, that the accused made such statement outside the
Republic at such time, if such document is accompanied by a certificate, purporting to
have been signed by the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, to the effect that he is satisfied
that such document is of foreign origin.

248 Presumption that accused possessed particular qualification or acted in

particular capacity
(1) If an act or an omission constitutes an offence only when committed by a person
possessing a particular qualification or quality, or vested with a particular authority or
acting in a particular capacity, an accused charged with such an offence upon a charge
alleging that he possessed such qualification or quality or was vested with such
authority or was acting in such capacity, shall, at criminal proceedings, be deemed to
have possessed such qualification or quality or to have been vested with such authority
or to have been acting in such capacity at the time of the commission of the offence,
unless such allegation is at any time during the criminal proceedings expressly denied
by the accused or is disproved.
(2) If such allegation is denied or evidence is led to disprove it after the prosecution
has closed its case, the prosecution may adduce any evidence and submit any
argument in support of the allegation as if it had not closed its case.

249 Presumption of failure to pay tax or to furnish information relating to tax

When an accused is at criminal proceedings charged with any offence of which the
failure to pay any tax or impost to the State, or of which the failure to furnish to any
officer of the State any information relating to any tax or impost which is or may be
due to the State is an element, the accused shall be deemed to have failed to pay such
tax or impost or to furnish such information, unless the contrary is proved.

250 Presumption of lack of authority

(1) If a person would commit an offence if he-
(a) carried on any occupation or business;
(b) performed any act;
(c) owned or had in his possession or custody or used any article; or
(d) was present at or entered any place,
without being the holder of a licence, permit, permission or other authority or
qualification (in this section referred to as the 'necessary authority'), an accused
shall, at criminal proceedings upon a charge that he committed such an offence, be
deemed not to have been the holder of the necessary authority, unless the contrary is
proved.
(2) (a) Any peace officer and, where any fee payable for the necessary authority
would accrue to the National Revenue Fund or the Railway and Harbour Fund or a
provincial revenue fund, any person authorized thereto in writing by the head of the
relevant department or sub-department or by the officer in charge of the relevant
office, may demand the production from a person referred to in subsection (1) of the
necessary authority which is appropriate.
[Para. (a) amended by s. 1 of Act 49 of 1996 and by s. 4 of Act 18 of 1996.]
(b) Any peace officer, other than a police official in uniform, and any person
authorized under paragraph (a) shall, when demanding the necessary authority from
any person, produce at the request of that person, his authority to make the demand.
(3) Any person who is the holder of the necessary authority and who fails without
reasonable cause to produce forthwith such authority to the person making the
demand under subsection (2) for the production thereof, or who fails without

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reasonable cause to submit such authority to a person and at a place and within
such reasonable time as the person making the demand may specify, shall be guilty of
an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding R300 or to imprisonment for
a period not exceeding three months.
[Sub-s. (3) substituted by s. 15 of Act 33 of 1986.]

251 Unstamped instrument admissible in criminal proceedings

An instrument liable to stamp duty shall not be held inadmissible at criminal
proceedings on the ground only that it is not stamped as required by law.

252 The law in cases not provided for

The law as to the admissibility of evidence which was in force in respect of criminal
proceedings on the thirtieth day of May, 1961, shall apply in any case not expressly
provided for by this Act or any other law.

252A Authority to make use of traps and undercover operations and

admissibility of evidence so obtained
(1) Any law enforcement officer, official of the State or any other person authorised
thereto for such purpose (hereinafter referred to in this section as an official or his or
her agent) may make use of a trap or engage in an undercover operation in order to
detect, investigate or uncover the commission of an offence, or to prevent the
commission of any offence, and the evidence so obtained shall be admissible if that
conduct does not go beyond providing an opportunity to commit an offence: Provided
that where the conduct goes beyond providing an opportunity to commit an offence a
court may admit evidence so obtained subject to subsection (3).
(2) In considering the question whether the conduct goes beyond providing an
opportunity to commit an offence, the court shall have regard to the following factors:
(a) Whether, prior to the setting of a trap or the use of an undercover
operation, approval, if it was required, was obtained from the attorney-
general to engage such investigation methods and the extent to which the
instructions or guidelines issued by the attorney-general were adhered to;
(b) the nature of the offence under investigation, including-
(i) whether the security of the State, the safety of the public, the
maintenance of public order or the national economy is seriously
threatened thereby;
(ii) the prevalence of the offence in the area concerned; and
(iii) the seriousness of such offence;
(c) the availability of other techniques for the detection, investigation or
uncovering of the commission of the offence or the prevention thereof in
the particular circumstances of the case and in the area concerned;
(d) whether an average person who was in the position of the accused, would
have been induced into the commission of an offence by the kind of conduct
employed by the official or his or her agent concerned;
(e) the degree of persistence and number of attempts made by the official or
his or her agent before the accused succumbed and committed the offence;
(f) the type of inducement used, including the degree of deceit, trickery,
misrepresentation or reward;
(g) the timing of the conduct, in particular whether the official or his or her
agent instigated the commission of the offence or became involved in an
existing unlawful activity;
(h) whether the conduct involved an exploitation of human characteristics such
as emotions, sympathy or friendship or an exploitation of the accused's
personal, professional or economic circumstances in order to increase the
probability of the commission of the offence;

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(i) whether the official or his or her agent has exploited a particular
vulnerability of the accused such as a mental handicap or a substance
addiction;
(j) the proportionality between the involvement of the official or his or her
agent as compared to that of the accused, including an assessment of the
extent of the harm caused or risked by the official or his or her agent as
compared to that of the accused, and the commission of any illegal acts by
the official or his or her agent;
(k) any threats, implied or expressed, by the official or his or her agent against
the accused;
(l) whether, before the trap was set or the undercover operation was used,
there existed any suspicion, entertained upon reasonable grounds, that the
accused had committed an offence similar to that to which the charge
relates;
(m) whether the official or his or her agent acted in good or bad faith; or
(n) any other factor which in the opinion of the court has a bearing on the
question.
(3) (a) If a court in any criminal proceedings finds that in the setting of a trap or the
engaging in an undercover operation the conduct goes beyond providing an
opportunity to commit an offence, the court may refuse to allow such evidence to be
tendered or may refuse to allow such evidence already tendered, to stand, if the
evidence was obtained in an improper or unfair manner and that the admission of such
evidence would render the trial unfair or would otherwise be detrimental to the
administration of justice.
(b) When considering the admissibility of the evidence the court shall weigh up
the public interest against the personal interest of the accused, having regard to the
following factors, if applicable:
(i) The nature and seriousness of the offence, including-
(aa) whether it is of such a nature and of such an extent that the
security of the State, the safety of the public, the maintenance of
public order or the national economy is seriously threatened
thereby;
(bb) whether, in the absence of the use of a trap or an undercover
operation, it would be difficult to detect, investigate, uncover or
prevent its commission;
(cc) whether it is so frequently committed that special measures are
required to detect, investigate or uncover it or to prevent its
commission; or
(dd) whether it is so indecent or serious that the setting of a trap or the
engaging of an undercover operation was justified;
(ii) the extent of the effect of the trap or undercover operation upon the
interests of the accused, if regard is had to-
(aa) the deliberate disregard, if at all, of the accused's rights or any
applicable legal and statutory requirements;
(bb) the facility, or otherwise, with which such requirements could have
been complied with, having regard to the circumstances in which
the offence was committed; or
(cc) the prejudice to the accused resulting from any improper or unfair
conduct;
(iii) the nature and seriousness of any infringement of any fundamental right
contained in the Constitution;
(iv) whether in the setting of a trap or the engagement of an undercover
operation the means used was proportional to the seriousness of the
offence; and

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(v) any other factor which in the opinion of the court ought to be taken into
account.
(4) An attorney-general may issue general or specific guidelines regarding the
supervision and control of traps and undercover operations, and may require any
official or his or her agent to obtain his or her written approval in order to set a trap or
to engage in an undercover operation at any place within his or her area of jurisdiction,
and in connection therewith to comply with his or her instructions, written or
otherwise.
(5) (a) An official or his or her agent who sets or participates in a trap or an
undercover operation to detect, investigate or uncover or to obtain evidence of or to
prevent the commission of an offence, shall not be criminally liable in respect of any
act which constitutes an offence and which relates to the trap or undercover operation
if it was performed in good faith.
(b) No prosecution for an offence contemplated in paragraph (a) shall be
instituted against an official or his or her agent without the written authority of the
attorney-general.
(6) If at any stage of the proceedings the question is raised whether evidence
should be excluded in terms of subsection (3) the burden of proof to show, on a
balance of probabilities, that the evidence is admissible, shall rest on the prosecution:
Provided that the accused shall furnish the grounds on which the admissibility of the
evidence is challenged: Provided further that if the accused is not represented the
court shall raise the question of the admissibility of the evidence.
(7) The question whether evidence should be excluded in terms of subsection (3)
may, on application by the accused or the prosecution, or by order of the court of its
own accord be adjudicated as a separate issue in dispute.
[S. 252A inserted by s. 1 of Act 85 of 1996.]

253 Saving of special provisions in other laws

No provision of this Chapter shall be construed as modifying any provision of any
other law whereby in any criminal proceedings referred to in such law certain specified
facts and circumstances are deemed to be evidence or a particular fact or circumstance
may be proved in a manner specified therein.

CHAPTER 25
CONVERSION OF TRIAL INTO ENQUIRY (ss 254-255)

254 ......
[S. 254 amended by s. 8 of Act 26 of 1987 and repealed by s. 99 (1) of Act 75 of 2008.]

255 Court may order enquiry under Prevention and Treatment of Drug
Dependency Act, 1992
(1) (a) If in any court during the trial of a person who is charged with an offence,
other than an offence referred to in section 18, it appears to the judge or judicial
officer presiding at the trial that such person is probably a person as is described in
section 21 (1) of the Prevention and Treatment of Drug Dependency Act, 1992 (in this
section referred to as the said Act), the judge or judicial officer, may, with the consent
of the prosecutor given after consultation with a social worker as defined in section 1
of the said Act, stop the trial and order that an enquiry be held in terms of section 22
of the said Act in respect of the person concerned by a magistrate as defined in section
1 of the said Act and indicated in the order.
[Para. (a) substituted by s. 32 of Act 105 of 1997.]
(b) The prosecutor shall not give his consent in terms of paragraph (a) if the
person concerned is a person in respect of whom the imposition of punishment of
imprisonment would be compulsory if he were convicted at such trial.
(2) (a) If the person concerned is in custody he shall for all purposes be deemed to
have been arrested in terms of a warrant issued under section 21 (1) of the said Act

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and shall as soon as practicable be brought before the said magistrate.

(b) If the person concerned is not in custody the said judge or judicial officer
shall determine the time when and the place where the person concerned shall appear
before the said magistrate, and he shall thereafter for all purposes be deemed to have
been summoned in terms of section 21 (1) of the said Act to appear before the said
magistrate at the time and place so determined.
(3) As soon as possible after an order has been made under subsection (1) of this
section, a prosecutor attached to the court of the said magistrate shall obtain a report
as is mentioned in section 21 (2) of the said Act.
(4) The provisions of the said Act shall mutatis mutandis apply in respect of a
person who appears before a magistrate, as defined in section 1 of the said Act, in
pursuance of an order made under subsection (1) of this section as if he were a person
brought before the said magistrate in terms of section 21 (1) of the said Act and as if
the report obtained in terms of subsection (3) of this section were a report obtained in
terms of section 21 (2) of the said Act.
(5) If an order is made under subsection (1) in the course of a trial, whether before
or after conviction, and a magistrate under the said Act orders that the person
concerned be detained in a treatment centre or registered treatment centre, the
proceedings at the trial shall be null and void in so far as such person is concerned.
(6) A copy of the record of the proceedings at the trial, certified or purporting to be
certified by the registrar or clerk of the court or other officer having custody of the
record of such proceedings or by the deputy of such registrar, clerk or other officer or,
in the case where the proceedings were taken down in shorthand or by mechanical
means, by the person who transcribed the proceedings, as a true copy of such record,
may be produced at the said enquiry as evidence.
[S. 255 substituted by s. 50 of Act 20 of 1992.]

CHAPTER 26
COMPETENT VERDICTS (ss 256-270)

256 Attempt
If the evidence in criminal proceedings does not prove the commission of the
offence charged but proves an attempt to commit that offence or an attempt to
commit any other offence of which an accused may be convicted on the offence
charged, the accused may be found guilty of an attempt to commit that offence or, as
the case may be, such other offence.

257 Accessory after the fact

If the evidence in criminal proceedings does not prove the commission of the
offence charged but proves that the accused is guilty as an accessory after that offence
or any other offence of which he may be convicted on the offence charged, the
accused may be found guilty as an accessory after that offence or, as the case may be,
such other offence, and shall, in the absence of any punishment expressly provided by
law, be liable to punishment at the discretion of the court: Provided that such
punishment shall not exceed the punishment which may be imposed in respect of the
offence with reference to which the accused is convicted as an accessory.
[S. 257 amended by s. 33 of Act 105 of 1997.]

258 Murder and attempted murder

If the evidence on a charge of murder or attempted murder does not prove the
offence of murder or, as the case may be, attempted murder, but-
(a) the offence of culpable homicide;
(b) the offence of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm;
(c) the offence of robbery;
(d) in a case relating to a child, the offence of exposing an infant, whether

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under a statute or at common law, or the offence of disposing of the body of a

child, in contravention of section 113 of the General Law Amendment Act,
1935 (Act 46 of 1935), with intent to conceal the fact of its birth;
(e) the offence of common assault;
(f) the offence of public violence; or
(g) the offence of pointing a fire-arm, air-gun or air-pistol in contravention of
any law,
the accused may be found guilty of the offence so proved.

259 Culpable homicide

If the evidence on a charge of culpable homicide does not prove the offence of
culpable homicide, but-
(a) the offence of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm;
(b) the offence of robbery;
(c) in the case relating to a child, the offence of exposing an infant, whether
under a statute or at common law, or the offence of disposing of the body
of a child, in contravention of section 113 of the General Law Amendment
Act, 1935 (Act 46 of 1935), with intent to conceal the fact of its birth;
(d) the offence of common assault;
(e) the offence of public violence; or
(f) the offence of pointing a fire-arm, air-gun or air-pistol in contravention of
any law,
the accused may be found guilty of the offence so proved.

260 Robbery
If the evidence on a charge of robbery or attempted robbery does not prove the
offence of robbery or, as the case may be, attempted robbery, but-
(a) the offence of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm;
(b) the offence of common assault;
(c) the offence of pointing a fire-arm, air-gun or air-pistol in contravention of
any law;
(d) the offence of theft;
(e) the offence of receiving stolen property knowing it to have been stolen; or
(f) an offence under section 36 or 37 of the General Law Amendment Act, 1955
(Act 62 of 1955),
(g) ......
[Para. (g) deleted by s. 1 of Act 49 of 1996.]

the accused may be found guilty of the offence so proved, or, where the offence of
assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm or the offence of common assault and
the offence of theft are proved, of both such offences.

261 Rape, compelled rape, sexual assault, compelled sexual assault and
compelled self-sexual assault
(1) If the evidence on a charge of rape or compelled rape, as contemplated in
sections 3 or 4 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment
Act, 2007, respectively, or any attempt to commit any of those offences, does not
prove any such offence or an attempt to commit any such offence, but the offence of-
(a) assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm;
(b) common assault;
(c) sexual assault as contemplated in section 5 of the Criminal Law (Sexual
Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007;

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(d) compelled sexual assault as contemplated in section 6 of the Criminal Law

(Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007;
(e) compelled self-sexual assault as contemplated in section 7 of the Criminal
Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007;
(f) incest as contemplated in section 12 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences
and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007;
(g) having committed an act of consensual sexual penetration with a child as
contemplated in section 15 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and
Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007; or
(h) having committed an act of consensual sexual violation with a child as
contemplated in section 16 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and
Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007,
the accused may be found guilty of the offence so proved.
(2) If the evidence on a charge of sexual assault, compelled sexual assault or
compelled self-sexual assault as contemplated in sections 5, 6 or 7 of the Criminal Law
(Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007, respectively, does not
prove any such offence but the offence of-
(a) common assault or;
(b) having committed an act of consensual sexual violation with a child as
contemplated in section 16 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and
Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007,
the accused may be found guilty of the offence so proved.
[S. 261 amended by s. 6 of Act 72 of 1985 and substituted by s. 68 of Act 32 of 2007.]
[NB: A s. 261A has been inserted by s. 48 of the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in
Persons Act 7 of 2013, a provision which will be put into operation by proclamation. See
PENDLEX.]

262 Housebreaking with intent to commit an offence

(1) If the evidence on a charge of housebreaking with intent to commit an offence
specified in the charge, whether the charge is brought under a statute or the common
law, does not prove the offence of housebreaking with intent to commit the offence so
specified but the offence of housebreaking with intent to commit an offence other than
the offence so specified or the offence of housebreaking with intent to commit an
offence unknown or the offence of malicious injury to property, the accused may be
found guilty of the offence so proved.
[Sub-s. (1) substituted by s. 6 of Act 64 of 1982.]

(2) If the evidence on a charge of housebreaking with intent to commit an offence

to the prosecutor unknown, whether the charge is brought under a statute or the
common law, does not prove the offence of housebreaking with intent to commit an
offence to the prosecutor unknown, but the offence of housebreaking with intent to
commit a specific offence, or the offence of malicious injury to property, the accused
may be found guilty of the offence so proved.
[Sub-s. (2) substituted by s. 5 (a) of Act 4 of 1992.]

(3) If the evidence on a charge of attempted housebreaking with intent to commit

an offence specified in the charge, or attempted housebreaking with intent to commit
an offence to the prosecutor unknown, whether the charge is brought under a statute
or the common law, does not prove the offence of attempted housebreaking with
intent to commit the offence so specified, or attempted housebreaking with intent to
commit an offence to the prosecutor unknown, but the offence of malicious injury to
property, the accused may be found guilty of the offence so proved.
[Sub-s. (3) added by s. 5 (b) of Act 4 of 1992.]

263 Statutory offence of breaking and entering or of entering premises

(1) If the evidence on a charge for the statutory offence in any province of breaking
and entering or of the entering of any premises with intent to commit an offence

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specified in the charge, does not prove the offence of breaking and entering or of
entering the premises with intent to commit the offence so specified but the offence of
breaking and entering or of entering the premises with intent to commit an offence
other than the offence so specified or of breaking and entering the premises with
intent to commit an offence unknown, the accused may be found guilty-
(a) of the offence so proved; or
(b) where it is a statutory offence within the province in question to be in or
upon any dwelling, premises or enclosed area between sunset and sunrise
without lawful excuse, of such offence, if such be the facts proved.
(2) If the evidence on a charge for the statutory offence in any province of breaking
and entering or of the entering of any premises with intent to commit an offence to the
prosecutor unknown, does not prove the offence of breaking and entering or of
entering the premises with intent to commit an offence to the prosecutor unknown but
the offence of breaking and entering or of entering the premises with intent to commit
a specific offence, the accused may be found guilty of the offence so proved.

264 Theft
(1) If the evidence on a charge of theft does not prove the offence of theft, but-
(a) the offence of receiving stolen property knowing it to have been stolen;
(b) an offence under section 36 or 37 of the General Law Amendment Act, 1955
(Act 62 of 1955); or
(c) an offence under section 1 of the General Law Amendment Act, 1956 (Act
50 of 1956),
(d) ......
[Para. (d) deleted by s. 1 of Act 49 of 1996.]

the accused may be found guilty of the offence so proved.

(2) If a charge of theft alleges that the property referred to therein was stolen on
one occasion and the evidence proves that the property was stolen on different
occasions, the accused may be convicted of the theft of such property as if it had been
stolen on that one occasion.

265 Receiving stolen property knowing it to have been stolen

If the evidence on a charge of receiving stolen property knowing it to have been
stolen does not prove that offence, but-
(a) the offence of theft; or
(b) an offence under section 37 of the General Law Amendment Act, 1955 (Act
62 of 1955),
(c) ......
[Para. (c) deleted by s. 1 of Act 49 of 1996.]

the accused may be found guilty of the offence so proved.

266 Assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm

If the evidence on a charge of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm does
not prove the offence of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm but the offence
of-
(a) common assault;
(b) sexual assault, compelled sexual assault or compelled self-sexual assault as
contemplated in sections 5, 6 or 7 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and
Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007, respectively; or
[Para. (b) substituted by s. 68 of Act 32 of 2007.]
(c) pointing a fire-arm, air-gun or air-pistol in contravention of any law,
the accused may be found guilty of the offence so proved.

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 134 of 221

267 Common assault

If the evidence on a charge of common assault proves the offence of sexual assault,
compelled sexual assault or compelled self-sexual assault as contemplated in sections
5, 6 or 7 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act,
2007, respectively, the accused may be found guilty of any such offence, or, if the
evidence on such a charge does not prove the offence of common assault but the
offence of pointing a fire-arm, air-gun or air-pistol in contravention of any law, the
accused may be found guilty of that offence.
[S. 267 substituted by s. 68 of Act 32 of 2007.]

268 Statutory unlawful carnal intercourse

If the evidence on a charge of unlawful carnal intercourse or attempted unlawful
carnal intercourse with another person in contravention of any statute does not prove
that offence but-
(a) the offence of sexual assault, compelled sexual assault or compelled self-
sexual assault as contemplated in section 5, 6 or 7 of the Criminal Law
(Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007, respectively;
(b) the offence of common assault; or
(c) the statutory offence of-
(i) committing an immoral or indecent act with such other person;
(ii) soliciting, enticing or importuning such other person to have
unlawful carnal intercourse;
(iii) soliciting, enticing or importuning such other person to commit an
immoral or indecent act; or
(iv) conspiring with such other person to have unlawful carnal
intercourse,
the accused may be found guilty of the offence so proved.
[S. 268 substituted by s. 68 of Act 32 of 2007.]

269 ......
[S. 269 repealed by s. 68 of Act 32 of 2007.]

269A 23

If evidence on a charge of an offence under Part 1 to 4, or section 17, 20 or 21 (in

so far as it relates to the aforementioned offences) of Chapter 2 of the Prevention and
Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, 2004, does not prove the offence so charged but
proves the offence of-
(a) theft;
(b) fraud; or
(c) extortion,
the accused may be found guilty of the crime or offence so proved.
[S. 269A inserted by s. 36 (1) of Act 12 of 2004.]
23 The English text of section 269A was inserted without a heading. In the Afrikaans text the
heading reads as follows: 'Statutêr-wederregtelike korrupte bedrywighede'

270 Offences not specified in this Chapter

If the evidence on a charge for any offence not referred to in the preceding sections
of this Chapter does not prove the commission of the offence so charged but proves
the commission of an offence which by reason of the essential elements of that offence
is included in the offence so charged, the accused may be found guilty of the offence
so proved.

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 135 of 221

CHAPTER 27
PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS (ss 271-273)

271 Previous convictions may be proved

(1) The prosecution may, after an accused has been convicted but before sentence
has been imposed upon him, produce to the court for admission or denial by the
accused a record of previous convictions alleged against the accused.
(2) The court shall ask the accused whether he admits or denies any previous
conviction referred to in subsection (1).
(3) If the accused denies such previous conviction, the prosecution may tender
evidence that the accused was so previously convicted.
(4) If the accused admits such previous conviction or such previous conviction is
proved against the accused, the court shall take such conviction into account when
imposing any sentence in respect of the offence of which the accused has been
convicted.

271A Certain convictions fall away as previous convictions after expiration of

10 years
Where a court has convicted a person of-
(a) any offence in respect of which a sentence of imprisonment for a period
exceeding six months without the option of a fine, may be imposed but-
(i) has postponed the passing of sentence in terms of section 297 (1)
(a) and has discharged that person in terms of section 297 (2)
without passing sentence or has not called upon him or her to
appear before the court in terms of section 297 (3); or
(ii) has discharged that person with a caution or reprimand in terms of
section 297 (1) (c); or
(b) any offence in respect of which a sentence of imprisonment for a period not
exceeding six months without the option of a fine, may be imposed,
that conviction shall fall away as a previous conviction if a period of 10 years has
elapsed after the date of conviction of the said offence, unless during that period the
person has been convicted of an offence in respect of which a sentence of
imprisonment for a period exceeding six months without the option of a fine, may be
imposed.
[S. 271A inserted by s. 12 of Act 5 of 1991, amended by s. 6 of Act 4 of 1992 and substituted
by s. 2 of Act 65 of 2008.]

271B Expungement of certain criminal records

(1) (a) Where a court has imposed any of the following sentences on, or has made
any of the following orders in respect of, a person convicted of an offence, the criminal
record of that person, containing the conviction and sentence or order in question,
must, subject to paragraph (b) and subsection (2) and section 271D, on the person's
written application, be expunged after a period of 10 years has elapsed after the date
of conviction for that offence, unless during that period the person in question has
been convicted of an offence and has been sentenced to a period of imprisonment
without the option of a fine:
(i) A sentence postponing the passing of sentence in terms of section 297 (1)
(a) where that person was discharged in terms of section 297 (2), without
the passing of sentence, or where that person was not called upon to
appear before the court in terms of section 297 (3);
(ii) a sentence discharging that person with a caution or reprimand in terms of
section 297 (1) (c);
(iii) a sentence in the form of a fine only, not exceeding R20 000;

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 136 of 221

(iv) a sentence of corporal punishment before corporal punishment was

declared to be unconstitutional as a sentencing option;
(v) any sentence of imprisonment with the option of a fine, not exceeding R20
000;
(vi) any sentence of imprisonment which was suspended wholly;
(viA) an order in terms of section 290 (1) (a) or (b) as that section was before it
was repealed by section 99 of the Child Justice Act, 2008 (Act 75 of 2008);
[Sub-para. (viA) inserted by s. 6 (b) of Act 42 of 2013.]
(vii) a sentence of correctional supervision, referred to in section 276 (1) (h) or
a sentence referred to in section 276 (1) (i); or
[Sub-para. (vii) substituted by s. 6 (c) of Act 42 of 2013.]
(viii) a sentence of periodical imprisonment, referred to in section 276 (1) (c).
(b) A person-
(i) who has been convicted of a sexual offence against a child or a person who
is mentally disabled and whose name has been included in the National
Register for Sex Offenders, as provided for in section 50 of the Criminal Law
(Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007 (Act 32 of
2007); or
(ii) whose name has been included in the National Child Protection Register as
a result of a conviction for an offence, as provided for in section 120 (1) (b)
of the Children's Act, 2005 (Act 38 of 2005),
does not qualify to have the criminal record in question expunged in terms of this
section, unless his or her name has been removed from the National Register of Sex
Offenders, as provided for in section 51 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and
Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007, or section 128 of the Children's Act, 2005, as
the case may be.
[Sub-s. (1) amended by s. 6 (a) of Act 42 of 2013.]

(2) The Director-General: Justice and Constitutional Development must, on receipt

of the written application of a person referred to in subsection (1), issue a certificate of
expungement, directing that the criminal record of that person be expunged, if the
Director-General is satisfied that the person applying for expungement complies with
the criteria set out in subsection (1).
(3) The Director-General: Justice and Constitutional Development must submit
every certificate of expungement that has been issued as provided for in subsection
(2) to the head of the Criminal Record Centre of the South African Police Service, to be
dealt with in accordance with section 271D.
[S. 271B inserted by s. 3 of Act 65 of 2008.]

271C Expungement of certain criminal records under legislation enacted

before the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1993, took effect
(1) Where a court has convicted a person of any of the following offences, the
criminal record, containing the conviction and sentence in question, of that person in
respect of that offence must be expunged automatically by the Criminal Record Centre
of the South African Police Service, as provided for in section 271D:
(a) A contravention of section 1 of the Black Land Act, 1913 (Act 27 of 1913);
(b) a contravention of section 12 of the Development Trust and Land Act, 1936
(Act 18 of 1936);
(c) a contravention of section 5 (1), read with section 5 (2), section 6 (1), read
with section 6 (2), section 9 (3), section 9 (3)bis(a), read with section 9 (3)
(c), section 10 (1), read with section 10 (4), section 11 (1), read with
section 11 (2) (a), section 12 (1), read with section 12 (2), section 12 (3),
section 15 (1), read with section 15 (3), section 29 (1), read with section
29 (9) and section 29 (12), section 31 (1), read with section 31 (2), section
35 (1), read with section 35 (4), section 35 (5), section 35 (6), section 40
(3), section 43bis or section 44, of the Blacks (Urban Areas) Consolidation

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 137 of 221

Act, 1945 (Act 25 of 1945);

[Para. (c) substituted by s. 7 (a) of Act 42 of 2013.]
(d) a contravention of section 8 (1), read with section 8 (3), of the Coloured
Persons Settlement Act, 1946 (Act 7 of 1946);
(e) a contravention of section 2 or 4 of the Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act,
1949 (Act 55 of 1949);
(f) a contravention of section 11 of the Internal Security Act, 1950 (Act 44 of
1950);
(g) a contravention of section 10 (6) and (7), 11 (4), 14, 15, 16, 20 (1), 28
(7), 29 (1) or 30 of the Black Building Workers Act, 1951 (Act 27 of 1951);
(h) a contravention of section 15 of the Blacks (Abolition of Passes and Co-
ordination of Documents) Act, 1952 (Act 67 of 1952);
(i) a contravention of section 2 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1953 (Act
8 of 1953);
(j) a contravention of section 2 (2) of the Reservation of Separate Amenities
Act, 1953 (Act 49 of 1953);
(k) a contravention of section 16 of the Sexual Offences Act, 1957 (Act 23 of
1957);
(kA) a contravention of section 14, section 20 (2), section 20A (4) or section 26
(2) of the Black Labour Act, 1964 (Act 67 of 1964);
[Para. (kA) inserted by s. 7 (b) of Act 42 of 2013.]
(l)a contravention of section 46 of the Group Areas Act, 1966 (Act 36 of
1966);
(m) a contravention of section 2 or 3 of the Terrorism Act, 1967 (Act 83 of
1967); or
(n) a contravention of section 2 read with section 4 (1), of the Prohibition of
Foreign Financing of Political Parties Act, 1968 (Act 51 of 1968).
(2) (a) Where a court has convicted a person of contravening any provision of-
(i) an Act of Parliament or subordinate legislation made thereunder;
(ii) an ordinance of a provincial council;
(iii) a municipal by-law;
(iv) a proclamation;
(v) a decree; or
(vi) any other enactment having the force of law,
other than those provisions referred to in subsection (1), which were enacted in the
former Republic of South Africa, the former Republic of Transkei, Bophuthatswana,
Ciskei or Venda, or in any former self-governing territory, as provided for in the Self-
governing Territories Constitution Act, 1971 (Act 21 of 1971), before the Constitution
of the Republic of South Africa, 1993 (Act 200 of 1993), took effect, which created
offences that were based on race or which created offences, which would not have
been considered to be offences in an open and democratic society, based on human
dignity, equality and freedom, under the constitutional dispensation after 27 April
1994, the criminal record, containing the conviction and sentence in question, of that
person must, on the person's written application, subject to subsection (3) and section
271D, be expunged.
(b) Where the criminal record of a person referred to in subsection (1) has not
been expunged automatically as provided for in that subsection, the criminal record of
that person must, on his or her written application, subject to subsection (3) and
section 271D, be expunged.
(3) The Director-General: Justice and Constitutional Development must, on receipt
of the written application of a person referred to in subsection (2) (a) or (b), issue a
certificate of expungement, directing that the criminal record of the person be
expunged, if the Director-General is satisfied that the person applying for

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 138 of 221

expungement complies with the criteria set out in subsection (1) or subsection (2)
(a), as the case may be.
(4) The Director-General: Justice and Constitutional Development must submit
every certificate of expungement that has been issued as provided for in subsection
(3) or (5) (b) to the head of the Criminal Record Centre of the South African Police
Service, to be dealt with in accordance with section 271D.
(5) (a) In the case of a dispute or any uncertainty as to whether an offence is an
offence as referred to in subsection (1) or (2) (a) or not, the matter must be referred
to the Minister for a decision.
(b) If the Minister decides that the offence is an offence as referred to in
subsection (1) or (2) (a), he or she must issue a certificate of expungement, directing
that the criminal record of the person be expunged.
[S. 271C inserted by s. 3 of Act 65 of 2008.]

271D Expungement of certain criminal records by Criminal Record Centre

(1) The head of the Criminal Record Centre of the South African Police Service or a
senior person or persons at the rank of Director or above, employed at the Centre,
who has or have been authorised, in writing, by the head of the Centre to do so, must
expunge the criminal record of a person if-
(i) he or she is furnished with a certificate of expungement by the Director-
General: Justice and Constitutional Development as provided for in section
271B (2) or section 271C (3) or by the Minister as provided for in section
271C (5); or
(ii) that person qualifies for the automatic expungement of his or her criminal
record as provided for in section 271C (1).
(2) The head of the Criminal Record Centre of the South African Police Service
must, on the written request of a person who-
(a) has applied to have his or her criminal record expunged in terms of section
271B or section 271C (2); or
(b) qualifies to have his or her criminal record expunged automatically in terms
of section 271C (1),
in writing, confirm that the criminal record in question has been expunged.
(3) Any person who-
(a) without the authority of a certificate of expungement as provided for in
section 271B, 271C or this section; and
(b) intentionally or in a grossly negligent manner,
expunges the criminal record of any person or confirms that a criminal record has been
expunged as provided for in subsection (2), is guilty of an offence and is liable on
conviction to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 10 years or to both a
fine and that imprisonment.
[S. 271D inserted by s. 3 of Act 65 of 2008.]

271DA Revoking of certificate of expungement erroneously issued

(1) Where the Director-General: Justice and Constitutional Development, in terms of
section 271B (2) or 271C (3), or the Minister, in terms of section 271C (5) (b), has
issued a certificate of expungement and it subsequently appears that the applicant did
not qualify for the expungement of his or her record, the Director-General must-
(a) inform the applicant in writing of the information that has come to his or
her attention and that he or she or the Minister intends to revoke the
certificate of expungement;
(b) afford the applicant an opportunity to furnish compelling written reasons to
him or her or the Minister, within 90 working days after the applicant has
been informed of the intention to revoke, why his or her record should

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 139 of 221

remain expunged;
(c) inform the applicant in writing within 30 working days after a decision is
made of-
(i) his or her or the Minister's decision; and
(ii) the reasons for revoking the certificate of expungement; and
(d) inform the head of the Criminal Record Centre of the South African Police
Service in writing within 14 working days after the decision was made, to
revoke the certificate of expungement and to reinstate the convictions and
sentences in question.
(2) If the applicant fails to furnish compelling written reasons contemplated in
subsection (1) (b), the Director-General or the Minister, as the case may be, may,
subject to the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, 2000 (Act 2 of 2000), revoke
the certificate of expungement.
[S. 271DA inserted by s. 8 of Act 42 of 2013.]

271DB Delegation of powers and assignment of duties by Director-General

(1) The Director-General: Justice and Constitutional Development may delegate any
power or assign any duty conferred on or assigned to him or her in terms of section
271B (2) or (3) or 271C (3) or (4) to an appropriately qualified official in the employ of
the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development at the rank of Deputy
Director-General.
(2) A delegation or assignment in terms of subsection (1)-
(a) is subject to any limitation, condition and direction which the Director-
General may impose;
(b) must be in writing; and
(c) does not divest the Director-General of the responsibility concerning the
exercise of the power or the performance of the duty.
(3) The Director-General may-
(a) confirm, vary or revoke any decision taken in consequence of a delegation
or assignment in terms of this section, subject to any rights that may have
accrued to a person as a result of the decision; and
(b) at any time, in writing, withdraw a delegation or assignment.
[S. 271DB inserted by s. 8 of Act 42 of 2013.]

271E Regulations
The Minister-
24
(a) must make regulations regarding-
(i) the form on which a person's written application for the
expungement of his or her criminal record must be made, as
provided for in section 271B (1) (a) and section 271C (2) (a) and
(b);
(ii) the certificate of expungement to be issued by the Director-
General: Justice and Constitutional Development or the Minister, as
provided for in section 271B (2) and section 271C (3) and (5) (b);
and
(iii) the manner in which the Director-General must submit certificates
of expungement that have been issued, to the head of the Criminal
Record Centre of the South African Police Service, as provided for
in section 271B (3) and section 271C (4); and
(b) may make regulations regarding any other matter which is necessary or
expedient in order to achieve the objects of sections 271B, 271C and 271D.
[S. 271E inserted by s. 3 of Act 65 of 2008.]
24 Expungement regulations published in GN R513 in GG 32205 of 6 May 2009

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 140 of 221

272 Finger-print record prima facie evidence of conviction

When a previous conviction may be proved under any provision of this Act, a record,
photograph or document which relates to a finger-print and which purports to emanate
from the officer commanding the South African Criminal Bureau or, in the case of any
other country, from any officer having charge of the criminal records of the country in
question, shall, whether or not such record, photograph or document was obtained
under any law or against the wish or the will of the person concerned, be admissible in
evidence at criminal proceedings upon production thereof by a police official having the
custody thereof, and shall be prima facie proof of the facts contained therein.

273 Evidence of further particulars relating to previous conviction

Whenever any court in criminal proceedings requires particulars or further
particulars or clarification of any previous conviction admitted by or proved against an
accused at such proceedings-
(a) any telegram purporting to have been sent by the officer commanding the
South African Criminal Bureau or by any court within the Republic; or
(b) any document purporting to be certified as correct by the officer referred to
in paragraph (a) or by any registrar or clerk of any court within the
Republic or by any officer in charge of any prison within the Republic,
and which purports to furnish such particulars or such clarification, shall, upon the
mere production thereof at the relevant proceedings be admissible as prima facie proof
of the facts contained therein.

CHAPTER 28
SENTENCE (ss 274-299A)

274 Evidence on sentence

(1) A court may, before passing sentence, receive such evidence as it thinks fit in
order to inform itself as to the proper sentence to be passed.
(2) The accused may address the court on any evidence received under subsection
(1), as well as on the matter of the sentence, and thereafter the prosecution may
likewise address the court.

275 Sentence by judicial officer or judge other than judicial officer or judge
who convicted accused
(1) If sentence is not passed upon an accused forthwith upon conviction in a lower
court, or if, by reason of any decision or order of a superior court on appeal, review or
otherwise, it is necessary to add to or vary any sentence passed in a lower court or to
pass sentence afresh in such court, any judicial officer of that court may, in the
absence of the judicial officer who convicted the accused or passed the sentence, as
the case may be, and after consideration of the evidence recorded and in the presence
of the accused, pass sentence on the accused or take such other steps as the judicial
officer who is absent, could lawfully have taken in the proceedings in question if he or
she had not been absent.
(2) Whenever-
(a) a judge is required to sentence an accused convicted by him or her of any
offence; or
(b) any matter is remitted on appeal or otherwise to the judge who presided at
the trial of an accused,
and that judge is for any reason not available, any other judge of the provincial or local
division concerned may, after consideration of the evidence recorded and in the
presence of the accused, sentence the accused or, as the case may be, take such other

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 141 of 221

steps as the former judge could lawfully have taken in the proceedings in question if
he or she had been available.
[S. 275 substituted by s. 7 of Act 34 of 1998.]

276 Nature of punishments

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act and any other law and of the common law,
the following sentences may be passed upon a person convicted of an offence, namely-
(a) ......
[Para. (a) deleted by s. 34 of Act 105 of 1997.]
(b) imprisonment, including imprisonment for life or imprisonment for an
indefinite period as referred to in section 286B (1);
[Para. (b) substituted by s. 3 of Act 107 of 1990 and by s. 20 of Act 116 of 1993.]
(c) periodical imprisonment;
(d) declaration as an habitual criminal;
(e) committal to any institution established by law;
(f) a fine;
(g) ......
[Para. (g) deleted by s. 2 of Act 33 of 1997.]
(h) correctional supervision;
[Para. (h) added by s. 41 (a) of Act 122 of 1991.]
(i) imprisonment from which such a person may be placed under correctional
supervision in the discretion of the Commissioner or a parole board.
[Para. (i) added by s. 41 (a) of Act 122 of 1991 and substituted by s. 20 of Act 87 of 1997.]

(2) Save as is otherwise expressly provided by this Act, no provision thereof shall be
construed-
(a) as authorizing any court to impose any sentence other than or any sentence
in excess of the sentence which that court may impose in respect of any
offence; or
(b) as derogating from any authority specially conferred upon any court by any
law to impose any other punishment or to impose any forfeiture in addition
to any other punishment.
(3) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any law contained, other than the
Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1997 (Act 105 of 1997), the provisions of subsection (1)
shall not be construed as prohibiting the court-
(a) from imposing imprisonment together with correctional supervision; or
(b) from imposing the punishment referred to in subsection (1) (h) or (i) in
respect of any offence, whether under the common law or a statutory
provision, irrespective of whether the law in question provides for such or
any other punishment: Provided that any punishment contemplated in this
paragraph may not be imposed in any case where the court is obliged to
impose a sentence contemplated in section 51 (1) or (2), read with section
52, of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1997.
[Para. (b) amended by s. 5 of Act 22 of 2005.]
[Sub-s. (3) added by s. 41 (b) of Act 122 of 1991 and substituted by s. 18 (1) of Act 139 of
1992 and by s. 5 of Act 55 of 2003.]

276A Imposition of correctional supervision, and conversion of imprisonment

into correctional supervision and vice versa
(1) Punishment shall, subject to the provisions of section 75 of the Child Justice Act,
2008, only be imposed under section 276 (1) (h)-
(a) after a report of a probation officer or a correctional official has been placed
before the court; and
(b) for a fixed period not exceeding three years, or in the case of a conviction
for any offence referred to in the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and
Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007 (Act 32 of 2007), for a fixed period

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 142 of 221

not exceeding five years.

[Para. (b) substituted by s. 9 (a) of Act 42 of 2013.]
[Sub-s. (1) amended by s. 68 of Act 32 of 2007 and substituted by s. 99 (1) of Act 75 of
2008.]

(2) Punishment shall, subject to the provisions of section 77 of the Child Justice Act,
2008, only be imposed under section 276 (1) (i)-
(a) if the court is of the opinion that the offence justifies the imposing of
imprisonment, with or without the option of a fine, for a period not
exceeding five years; and
(b) for a fixed period not exceeding five years.
[Sub-s. (2) substituted by s. 99 (1) of Act 75 of 2008 and amended by s. 9 (b) of Act 42 of
2013.]

(2A) Punishment imposed under paragraph (h) or (i) of section 276 (1) on a person
convicted of any sexual offence shall, if practicable and if the convicted person
demonstrates the potential to benefit from treatment, include the attendance of and
participation in a sex offence specific treatment programme as prescribed in terms of
the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007, the
cost of which shall be borne by the convicted person himself or herself.
[Sub-s. (2A) inserted by s. 68 of Act 32 of 2007.]

(3) (a) Where a person has been sentenced by a court to imprisonment for a
period-
(i) not exceeding five years; or
(ii) exceeding five years, but his date of release in terms of the provisions of
the Correctional Services Act, 1959 (Act 8 of 1959), and the regulations
made thereunder is not more than five years in the future,
and such a person has already been admitted to a prison, the Commissioner or a
parole board may, if he or it is of the opinion that such a person is fit to be subjected
to correctional supervision, apply to the clerk or registrar of the court, as the case may
be, to have that person appear before the court a quo in order to reconsider the said
sentence.
[Para. (a) amended by s. 46 (a) of Act 129 of 1993 and by s. 21 (a) of Act 87 of 1997.]
(b) On receipt of any application referred to in paragraph (a) the clerk or
registrar of the court, as the case may be, shall, after consultation with the prosecutor,
set the matter down for a specific date on the roll of the court concerned.
[Para. (b) substituted by s. 46 (b) of Act 129 of 1993.]
(c) The clerk or registrar of the court, as the case may be, shall for purposes of
the reconsideration of the sentence in accordance with this subsection-
(i) within a reasonable time before the date referred to in paragraph (b)
submit the case record to the judicial officer who imposed the sentence or,
if he is not available, another judicial officer of the same court: Provided
that if the evidence in the case has been recorded by mechanical means,
only such parts of the record as may be indicated as necessary by such a
judicial officer, shall be transcribed for the purposes of this subsection;
(ii) inform the Commissioner or the parole board in writing of the date for
which the matter has been set down on the roll and request him or it to
furnish him with a written motivated recommendation before that date for
submission to the judicial officer; and
[Sub-para. (ii) substituted by s. 21 (b) of Act 87 of 1997.]
(iii) submit any recommendation referred to in subparagraph (ii) to that judicial
officer.
[Para. (c) amended by s. 46 (c) of Act 129 of 1993.]
(d) Whenever a court reconsiders a sentence in terms of this subsection, it shall
have the same powers as if it were considering sentence after conviction of a person
and the procedure adopted at such proceedings shall apply mutatis mutandis during
such reconsideration: Provided that if the person concerned concurs thereto in writing,
the proceedings contemplated in this subsection may be concluded in his absence:

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Provided further that he may nevertheless be represented at such proceedings or

cause to submit written representations to the court.
(e) After a court has reconsidered a sentence in terms of this subsection, it may-
(i) confirm the sentence or order of the court a quo;
(ii) convert the sentence into correctional supervision on the conditions it may
deem fit; or
(iii) impose any other proper sentence:
Provided that the last-mentioned sentence, if imprisonment, shall not exceed the
period of the unexpired portion of imprisonment still to be served at that point.
(4) (a) A court, whether constituted differently or not, which has imposed a
punishment referred to in subsection (1) or (2) on a person or has converted his
sentence under subsection (3) (e) (ii), may at any time, if it is found from a motivated
recommendation by a probation officer, the Commissioner or the parole board that
that person is not fit to be subject to correctional supervision or to serve the imposed
punishment, reconsider that punishment and impose any other proper punishment.
[Para. (a) substituted by s. 21 (c) of Act 87 of 1997.]
(b) The procedure referred to in subsection (3) shall apply mutatis mutandis to
the reconsideration of any punishment under this subsection.
[S. 276A inserted by s. 42 of Act 122 of 1991.]

276B Fixing of non-parole-period

(1) (a) If a court sentences a person convicted of an offence to imprisonment for a
period of two years or longer, the court may as part of the sentence, fix a period
during which the person shall not be placed on parole.
(b) Such period shall be referred to as the non-parole-period, and may not
exceed two thirds of the term of imprisonment imposed or 25 years, whichever is the
shorter.
(2) If a person who is convicted of two or more offences is sentenced to
imprisonment and the court directs that the sentences of imprisonment shall run
concurrently, the court shall, subject to subsection (1) (b), fix the non-parole-period in
respect of the effective period of imprisonment.
[S. 276B inserted by s. 22 of Act 87 of 1997.]

277 ......
[S. 277 substituted by s. 4 of Act 107 of 1990 and repealed by s. 35 of Act 105 of 1997.]

278 ......
[S. 278 repealed by s. 35 of Act 105 of 1997.]

279 ......
[S. 279 amended by s. 5 of Act 107 of 1990 and by s. 4 of Act 18 of 1996 and repealed by s.
35 of Act 105 of 1997.]

280 Cumulative or concurrent sentences

(1) When a person is at any trial convicted of two or more offences or when a
person under sentence or undergoing sentence is convicted of another offence, the
court may sentence him to such several punishments for such offences or, as the case
may be, to the punishment for such other offence, as the court is competent to
impose.
(2) Such punishments, when consisting of imprisonment, shall commence the one
after the expiration, setting aside or remission of the other, in such order as the court
may direct, unless the court directs that such sentences of imprisonment shall run
concurrently.
[Sub-s. (2) substituted by s. 47 (a) of Act 129 of 1993.]

(3) Such punishments, when consisting of correctional supervision referred to in

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section 276 (1) (h), shall commence the one after the expiration, setting aside or
remission of the other, in such order as the court may direct, unless the court directs
that such punishments of correctional supervision shall run concurrently: Provided that
if such punishments in the aggregate exceed a period of three years, a period of not
more than three years from the date on which the first of the said punishments has
commenced shall be served, unless the court, when imposing sentence, otherwise
directs.
[Sub-s. (3) added by s. 47 (b) of Act 129 of 1993.]

281 Interpretation of certain provisions in laws relating to imprisonment and

fines
In construing any provision of any law (not being an Act of Parliament passed on or
after the first day of September, 1959, or anything enacted by virtue of powers
conferred by such an Act), in so far as it prescribes or confers the powers to prescribe
a punishment for any offence, any reference in that law-
(a) to imprisonment with or without any form of labour, shall be construed as a
reference to imprisonment only;
(b) to any period of imprisonment of less than three months which may not be
exceeded in imposing or prescribing a sentence of imprisonment, shall be
construed as a reference to a period of imprisonment of three months;
(c) to any fine of less than fifty rand which may not be exceeded in imposing or
prescribing a fine, shall be construed as a reference to a fine of fifty rand.

282 Antedating sentence of imprisonment

Whenever any sentence of imprisonment, imposed on any person on conviction for
an offence, is set aside on appeal or review and any sentence of imprisonment or other
sentence of imprisonment is thereafter imposed on such person in respect of such
offence in place of the sentence of imprisonment imposed on conviction, or any other
offence which is substituted for that offence on appeal or review, the sentence which
was later imposed may, if the court imposing it is satisfied that the person concerned
has served any part of the sentence of imprisonment imposed on conviction, be
antedated by the court to a specified date, which shall not be earlier than the date on
which the sentence of imprisonment imposed on conviction was imposed, and
thereupon the sentence which was later imposed shall be deemed to have been
imposed on the date so specified.
[S. 282 substituted by s. 13 of Act 5 of 1991, amended by s. 48 of Act 129 of 1993 and
substituted by s. 36 of Act 105 of 1997.]

283 Discretion of court as to punishment

(1) A person liable to a sentence of imprisonment for life or for any period, may be
sentenced to imprisonment for any shorter period, and a person liable to a sentence of
a fine of any amount may be sentenced to a fine of any lesser amount.
(2) The provisions of subsection (1) shall not apply with reference to any offence for
which a minimum penalty is prescribed in the law creating the offence or prescribing a
penalty therefor.

284 Minimum period of imprisonment four days

No person shall be sentenced by any court to imprisonment for a period of less than
four days unless the sentence is that the person concerned be detained until the rising
of the court.

285 Periodical imprisonment

(1) A court convicting a person of any offence, other than an offence in respect of
which any law prescribes a minimum punishment, may, in lieu of any other
punishment, sentence such person to undergo in accordance with the laws relating to
prisons, periodical imprisonment for a period of not less than one hundred hours and

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not more than two thousand hours.

(2) (a) The court which imposes a sentence of periodical imprisonment upon any
person shall cause to be served upon him a notice in writing directing him to surrender
himself on a date and at a time specified in the notice or (if prevented from doing so
by circumstances beyond his control) as soon as possible thereafter, to the officer in
charge of a place so specified, whether within or outside the area of jurisdiction of the
court, for the purpose of undergoing such imprisonment.
(b) The court which tries any person on a charge of contravening subsection (4)
(a) shall, subject to subsection (5), cause a notice as contemplated in paragraph (a) to
be served on that person.
[Para. (b) added by s. 16 of Act 33 of 1986.]

(3) A copy of the said notice shall serve as a warrant for the reception into custody
of the convicted person by the said officer.
(4) Any person who-
(a) without lawful excuse, the proof whereof shall be on such person, fails to
comply with a notice issued under subsection (2); or
(b) when surrendering himself for the purpose of undergoing periodical
imprisonment, is under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs or the
like; or
(c) impersonates or falsely represents himself to be a person who has been
directed to surrender himself for the purpose of undergoing periodical
imprisonment,
shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to imprisonment for a period not
exceeding three months.
(5) If, before the expiration of any sentence of periodical imprisonment imposed
upon any person for any offence that person-
(a) is undergoing a punishment of any other form of detention imposed by any
court; or
(b) after having surrendered himself or herself pursuant to the notice issued
under subsection (2), without lawful excuse, the proof whereof shall be on
that person, thereafter fails to surrender himself or herself for the purpose
of undergoing periodical imprisonment, as required,
any magistrate before whom that person is brought, may set aside the unexpired
portion of the sentence of periodical imprisonment and, after considering the evidence
recorded in respect of the offence in question, may impose in lieu of any unexpired
portion any punishment within the limits of his or her jurisdiction and of any
punishment prescribed by any law as a punishment for the offence in question.
[Sub-s. (5) substituted by s. 12 (a) of Act 66 of 2008.]

(6) Any magistrate may, if it appears from information on oath that a person who
has been sentenced in terms of subsection (1) has failed to surrender himself or
herself to undergo imprisonment as provided for in this section, issue a warrant for the
arrest of that person in order to deal with him or her in terms of subsection (5) (b).
[Sub-s. (6) added by s. 12 (b) of Act 66 of 2008.]

25
286 Declaration of certain persons as habitual criminals
(1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (2), a superior court or a regional court
which convicts a person of one or more offences, may, if it is satisfied that the said
person habitually commits offences and that the community should be protected
against him, declare him an habitual criminal, in lieu of the imposition of any other
punishment for the offence or offences of which he is convicted.
(2) No person shall be declared an habitual criminal-
(a) if he is under the age of eighteen years; or
(b) ......

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[Para. (b) deleted by s. 6 of Act 107 of 1990.]

(c) if in the opinion of the court the offence warrants the imposition of
punishment which by itself or together with any punishment warranted or
required in respect of any other offence of which the accused is
simultaneously convicted, would entail imprisonment for a period exceeding
15 years.
[Para. (c) substituted by s. 37 of Act 105 of 1997.]

(3) A person declared an habitual criminal shall be dealt with in accordance with the
laws relating to prisons.
25 In S v Niemand 2001 (2) SACR 654 (CC) & 2002 (1) SA 21 (CC) the Constitutional Court
declared section 65 (4) (b) (iv) of the Correctional Services Act 8 of 1959 read with section 286 of the
Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 inconsistent with the Constitution and therefore invalid. See GN
R1042 in GG 22750 of 19 October 2001

286A Declaration of certain persons as dangerous criminals

(1) Subject to the provisions of subsections (2), (3) and (4), a superior court or a
regional court which convicts a person of one or more offences, may, if it is satisfied
that the said person represents a danger to the physical or mental well-being of other
persons and that the community should be protected against him, declare him a
dangerous criminal.
(2) (a) If it appears to a court referred to in subsection (1) or if it is alleged before
such court that the accused is a dangerous criminal, the court may after conviction
direct that the matter be enquired into and be reported on in accordance with the
provisions of subsection (3).
(b) Before the court commits an accused for an enquiry in terms of subsection
(3), the court shall inform such accused of its intention and explain to him the
provisions of this section and of section 286B as well as the gravity of those provisions.
(3) (a) Where a court issues a direction under subsection (2) (a), the relevant
enquiry shall be conducted and be reported on-
(i) by the medical superintendent of a psychiatric hospital designated by the
court, or by a psychiatrist appointed by such medical superintendent at the
request of the court; and
(ii) by a psychiatrist appointed by the accused if he so wishes.
(b)(i) The court may for the purposes of such enquiry commit the accused to a
psychiatric hospital or other place designated by the court, for such periods, not
exceeding 30 days at a time, as the court may from time to time determine, and if an
accused is in custody when he is so committed, he shall, while he is so committed, be
deemed to be in the lawful custody of the person or the authority in whose custody he
was at the time of such committal.
(ii) When the period of committal is extended for the first time under
subparagraph (i), such extension may be granted in the absence of the accused unless
the accused or his legal representative requests otherwise.
(c) The relevant report shall be in writing and shall be submitted in triplicate to
the registrar or the clerk of the court, as the case may be, who shall make a copy
thereof available to the prosecutor and the accused or his legal representative.
(d) The report shall-
(i) include a description of the nature of the enquiry; and
(ii) include a finding as to the question whether the accused represents a
danger to the physical or mental well-being of other persons.
(e) If the persons conducting the enquiry are not unanimous in their finding
under paragraph (d) (ii), such fact shall be mentioned in the report and each of such
persons shall give his finding on the matter in question.

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(f) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (g), the contents of the report shall be
admissible in evidence at criminal proceedings.
(g) A statement made by an accused at the enquiry shall not be admissible in
evidence against the accused at criminal proceedings, except to the extent to which it
may be relevant to the determination of the question whether the accused is a
dangerous criminal or not, in which event such statement shall be admissible
notwithstanding that it may otherwise be inadmissible.
(h) A psychiatrist appointed under paragraph (a), other than a psychiatrist
appointed by an accused, shall, subject to the provisions of paragraph (i), be
appointed from the list of psychiatrists referred to in section 79 (9).
(i) Where the list compiled and kept in terms of section 79 (9) does not include a
sufficient number of psychiatrists who may conveniently be appointed for any enquiry
under this subsection, a psychiatrist may be appointed for the purposes of such
enquiry notwithstanding that his name does not appear on such list.
(j) A psychiatrist designated or appointed under paragraph (a) and who is not in
the full-time service of the State, shall be compensated for his services in connection
with the enquiry, including giving evidence, from public funds in accordance with a
tariff determined by the Minister in consultation with the Minister of State Expenditure.
(k) For the purposes of this subsection a psychiatrist means a person registered
as a psychiatrist under the Medical, Dental and Supplementary Health Service
Professions Act, 1974 (Act 56 of 1974).
(4) (a) If the finding contained in the report is the unanimous finding of the persons
who under subsection (3) conducted the enquiry, and the finding is not disputed by the
prosecutor or the accused, the court may determine the matter on such report without
hearing further evidence.
(b) If the said finding is not unanimous or, if unanimous, is disputed by the
prosecutor or the accused, the court shall determine the matter after hearing evidence,
and the prosecutor and the accused may to that end present evidence to the court,
including the evidence of any person who under subsection (3) (a) conducted the
enquiry.
(c) Where the said finding is disputed, the party disputing the finding may
subpoena and cross-examine any person who under subsection (3) (a) conducted the
enquiry.
[S. 286A inserted by s. 21 of Act 116 of 1993.]

286B Imprisonment for indefinite period

(1) The court which declares a person a dangerous criminal shall-
(a) sentence such person to undergo imprisonment for an indefinite period; and
(b) direct that such person be brought before the court on the expiration of a
period determined by it, which shall not exceed the jurisdiction of the court.
(2) A person sentenced under subsection (1) to undergo imprisonment for an
indefinite period shall, notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1) (b) but subject
to the provisions of subsection (3), within seven days after the expiration of the period
contemplated in subsection (1) (b) be brought before the court which sentenced him in
order to enable such court to reconsider the said sentence: Provided that in the
absence of the judicial officer who sentenced the person any other judicial officer of
that court may, after consideration of the evidence recorded and in the presence of the
person, make such order as the judicial officer who is absent could lawfully have made
in the proceedings in question if he had not been absent.
(3) (a) The Commissioner may, if he is of the opinion that owing to practical or
other considerations it is desirable that a court other than the court which sentenced
the person should reconsider such sentence after the expiration of the period
contemplated in subsection (1) (b), with the concurrence of the attorney-general in
whose jurisdiction such other court is situated, apply to the registrar or to the clerk of
the court, as the case may be, of the other court to have such person appear before

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 148 of 221

the other court for that purpose: Provided that such sentence shall only be
reconsidered by a court with jurisdiction equal to that of the court which sentenced the
person.
(b) On receipt of any application referred to in paragraph (a), the registrar or the
clerk of the court, as the case may be, shall, after consultation with the prosecutor, set
the matter down for a date which shall not be later than seven days after the
expiration of the period contemplated in subsection (1) (b).
(c) The registrar or the clerk of the court, as the case may be, shall for the
purpose of the reconsideration of the sentence-
(i) within a reasonable time before the date contemplated in paragraph (b)
submit the case record to the judicial officer who is to reconsider the
sentence; and
(ii) inform the Commissioner in writing of the date for which the matter has
been set down.
(4) (a) Whenever a court reconsiders a sentence in terms of this section, it shall
have the same powers as it would have had if it were considering sentence after
conviction of a person and the procedure adopted at such proceedings shall apply
mutatis mutandis during such reconsideration: Provided that the court shall make no
finding before it has considered a report of a parole board as contemplated in section
5C of the Correctional Services Act, 1959 (Act 8 of 1959).
(b) After a court has considered a sentence in terms of this section, it may-
(i) confirm the sentence of imprisonment for an indefinite period, in which case
the court shall direct that such person be brought before the court on the
expiration of a further period determined by it, which shall not exceed the
jurisdiction of the court;
(ii) convert the sentence into correctional supervision on the conditions it
deems fit; or
(iii) release the person unconditionally or on such conditions as it deems fit.
(5) A court which has converted the sentence of a person under subsection (4) (b)
(ii) may, whether differently constituted or not-
(a) at any time, if it is found from a motivated recommendation by the
Commissioner that that person is not fit to be subject to correctional
supervision; or
(b) after such person has been brought before the court in terms of section 84B
of the Correctional Services Act, 1959 (Act 8 of 1959),
reconsider that sentence and-
(i) confirm the sentence of imprisonment for an indefinite period, in which case
the court shall direct that such person be brought before the court on the
expiration of a further period determined by it, which shall not exceed the
jurisdiction of the court;
(ii) release the person unconditionally or on such conditions as it deems fit; or
(iii) where the person is brought before the court in terms of paragraph (b),
again place the person under correctional supervision on the conditions it
deems fit and for a period which shall not exceed the unexpired portion of
the period of correctional supervision as converted in terms of subsection
(4) (b) (ii).
(6) For the purposes of subsection (4) (b) (i) or (5) (i), it shall not be regarded as
exceeding the jurisdiction of the regional court if the further period contemplated in
those subsections and the period contemplated in subsection (1) (b), together exceed
such court's jurisdiction.
(7) At the expiration of the further period contemplated in subsection (4) (b) (i) or
(5) (i), the provisions of subsections (2) up to and including (6), as well as of this
subsection, shall mutatis mutandis apply.
[S. 286B inserted by s. 21 of Act 116 of 1993.]

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287 Imprisonment in default of payment of fine

(1) Whenever a court convicts a person of any offence punishable by a fine
(whether with or without any other direct or alternative punishment), it may, in
imposing a fine upon such person, impose, as a punishment alternative to such fine, a
sentence of imprisonment of any period within the limits of its jurisdiction: Provided
that, subject to the provisions of subsection (3), the period of such alternative
sentence of imprisonment shall not, either alone or together with any period of
imprisonment imposed as a direct punishment, exceed the longest period of
imprisonment prescribed by any law as a punishment (whether direct or alternative)
for such offence.
(2) Whenever a court has imposed upon any person a fine without an alternative
sentence of imprisonment and the fine is not paid in full or is not recovered in full in
terms of section 288, the court which passed sentence on such person (or if that court
was a circuit local division of the Supreme Court, then the provincial or local division of
the Supreme Court within whose area of jurisdiction such sentence was imposed) may
issue a warrant directing that he be arrested and brought before the court, which may
thereupon sentence him to such term of imprisonment as could have been imposed
upon him as an alternative punishment in terms of subsection (1).
(3) Whenever by any law passed before the date of commencement of the General
Law Amendment Act, 1935 (Act 46 of 1935), a court is empowered to impose upon a
person convicted by such court of an offence, a sentence of imprisonment (whether
direct or as an alternative to a fine) of a duration proportionate to the sum of a fine,
that court may, notwithstanding such law, impose upon any person convicted of such
offence in lieu of a sentence of imprisonment which is proportionate as aforesaid, any
sentence of imprisonment within the limits of the jurisdiction of the court.
(4) Unless the court which has imposed a period of imprisonment as an alternative
to a fine has directed otherwise, the Commissioner or a parole board may in his or its
discretion at the commencement of the alternative punishment or at any point
thereafter, if it does not exceed five years-
(a) act as if the person were sentenced to imprisonment as referred to in
section 276 (1) (i); or
(b) apply in accordance with the provisions of section 276A (3) for the sentence
to be reconsidered by the court a quo, and thereupon the provisions of
section 276A (3) shall apply mutatis mutandis to such a case.
[Sub-s. (4) added by s. 43 of 122 of 1991 and amended by s. 23 of Act 87 of 1997.]

288 Recovery of fine

(1) (a) Whenever a person is sentenced to pay a fine, the court passing the
sentence may, in its discretion, issue a warrant addressed to the sheriff or messenger
of the court authorizing him to levy the amount of the fine by attachment and sale of
any movable property belonging to such person although the sentence directs that, in
default of payment of the fine, such person shall be imprisoned.
(b) The amount which may be levied shall be sufficient to cover, in addition to
the fine, the costs and expenses of the warrant and of the attachment and sale
thereunder.
(2) If the proceeds of the sale of the movable property are insufficient to satisfy the
amount of the fine and the costs and expenses aforesaid, a superior court may issue a
warrant, or, in the case of a sentence by any lower court, authorize such lower court to
issue a warrant for the levy against the immovable property of such person of the
amount unpaid.
(3) When a person is sentenced only to a fine or, in default of payment of the fine,
imprisonment and the court issues a warrant under this section, it may suspend the
execution of the sentence of imprisonment and may release the person upon his
executing a bond with or without sureties as the court thinks fit, on condition that he

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appears before such court or some other court on the day appointed for the return
of such warrant, such day being not more than fifteen days from the time of executing
the bond, and in the event of the amount of the fine not being recovered, the sentence
of imprisonment may be carried into execution forthwith or may be suspended as
before for a further period or periods of not more than fifteen days, as the court may
deem fit.
(4) In any case in which an order for the payment of money is made on
nonrecovery whereof imprisonment may be ordered, and the money is not paid
forthwith, the court may require the person ordered to make such payment to enter
into a bond as prescribed in subsection (3), and in default of his doing so, may at once
pass sentence of imprisonment as if the money had not been recovered.

289 Court may enforce payment of fine

Where a person is sentenced to pay a fine, whether with or without an alternative
period of imprisonment, the court may in its discretion, without prejudice to any other
power under this Act relating to the payment of a fine, enforce payment of the fine,
whether as to the whole or any part thereof-
(a) by the seizure of money upon the person concerned;
(b) if money is due or is to become due as salary or wages from any employer
of the person concerned-
(i) by from time to time ordering such employer to deduct a specified
amount from the salary or wages so due and to pay over such
amount to the clerk of the court in question; or
(ii) by ordering such employer to deduct from time to time a specified
amount from the salary or wages so due and to pay over such
amount to the clerk of the court in question.

290 ......
[S. 290 amended by s. 9 of Act 26 of 1987, by s. 7 of Act 107 of 1990, by s. 44 of Act 122 of
1991 and by s. 2 of Act 33 of 1997 and repealed by s. 99 (1) of Act 75 of 2008.]

291 ......
[S. 291 substituted by s. 10 of Act 26 of 1987, amended by s. 45 of Act 122 of 1991 and
repealed by s. 99 (1) of Act 75 of 2008.]

292 ......
[S. 292 amended by s. 17 of Act 33 of 1986 and deleted by s. 2 of Act 33 of 1997.]

293 ......
[S. 293 amended by s. 18 of Act 33 of 1986 and repealed by s. 2 of Act 33 of 1997.]

294 ......
[S. 294 amended by s. 19 of Act 33 of 1986 and repealed by s. 2 of Act 33 of 1997.]

295 ......
[S. 295 repealed by s. 2 of Act 33 of 1997.]

296 Committal to treatment centre

(1) A court convicting any person of any offence may, in addition to or in lieu of any
sentence in respect of such offence, order that the person be detained at a treatment
centre established under the Prevention and Treatment of Drug Dependency Act, 1992,
if the court is satisfied from the evidence or from any other information placed before
it, which shall in either of the said cases include the report of a probation officer, that
such person is a person as is described in section 21 (1) of the said Act, and such
order shall for the purposes of the said Act be deemed to have been made under
section 22 thereof: Provided that such order shall not be made in addition to any
sentence of imprisonment (whether direct or as an alternative to a fine) unless the
operation of the whole of such sentence is suspended.

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 151 of 221

(2) (a) Where a court has referred a person to a treatment centre under subsection
(1) and such person is later found not to be fit for treatment in such treatment centre,
such person may be dealt with mutatis mutandis in accordance with the provisions of
section 276A (4).
(b) For the purposes of the provisions of paragraph (a) the expression 'a
probation officer or the Commissioner' in section 276A (4) shall be construed as the
person at the head of the treatment centre or a person authorized by him.
[S. 296 amended by s. 15 of Act 56 of 1979, by s. 7 of Act 64 of 1982, by s. 11 of Act 26 of
1987 and by s. 46 of Act 122 of 1991 and substituted by s. 51 of Act 20 of 1992.]

297 Conditional or unconditional postponement or suspension of sentence,

and caution or reprimand
(1) Where a court convicts a person of any offence, other than an offence in respect
of which any law prescribes a minimum punishment, the court may in its discretion-
(a) postpone for a period not exceeding five years the passing of sentence and
release the person concerned-
(i) on one or more conditions, whether as to-
(aa) compensation;
(bb) the rendering to the person aggrieved of some specific
benefit or service in lieu of compensation for damage or
pecuniary loss;
(cc) the performance without remuneration and outside the prison
of some service for the benefit of the community under the
supervision or control of an organization or institution which,
or person who, in the opinion of the court, promotes the
interests of the community (in this section referred to as
community service);
[Item (cc) substituted by s. 20 (a) of Act 33 of 1986.]
(ccA) submission to correctional supervision;
[Item (ccA) inserted by s. 47 of Act 122 of 1991.]
(dd) submission to instruction or treatment;
(ee) submission to the supervision or control (including control
over the earnings or other income of the person concerned)
of a probation officer as defined in the Probation Services Act,
1991 (Act 116 of 1991);
[Item (ee) amended by s. 4 of Act 18 of 1996.]
(ff)
the compulsory attendance or residence at some specified
centre for a specified purpose;
(gg) good conduct;
(hh) any other matter,
and order such person to appear before the court at the expiration
of the relevant period; or
(ii) unconditionally, and order such person to appear before the court,
if called upon before the expiration of the relevant period; or
(b) pass sentence but order the operation of the whole or any part thereof to
be suspended for a period not exceeding five years on any condition
referred to in paragraph (a) (i) which the court may specify in the order; or
(c) discharge the person concerned with a caution or reprimand, and such
discharge shall have the effect of an acquittal, except that the conviction
shall be recorded as a previous conviction.
(1A) ......
[Sub-s. (1A) inserted by s. 20 (b) of Act 33 of 1986 and deleted by s. 99 (1) of Act 75 of
2008.]

(2) Where a court has under paragraph (a) (i) of subsection (1) postponed the
passing of sentence and the court, whether differently constituted or not, is at the

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expiration of the relevant period satisfied that the person concerned has observed
the conditions imposed under that paragraph, the court shall discharge him without
passing sentence, and such discharge shall have the effect of an acquittal, except that
the conviction shall be recorded as a previous conviction.
(3) Where a court has under paragraph (a) (ii) of subsection (1) unconditionally
postponed the passing of sentence, and the person concerned has not at the expiration
of the relevant period been called upon to appear before the court, such person shall
be deemed to have been discharged with a caution under subsection (1) (c).
(4) Where a court convicts a person of an offence in respect of which any law
prescribes a minimum punishment, the court may in its discretion pass sentence but
order the operation of a part thereof to be suspended for a period not exceeding five
years on any condition referred to in paragraph (a) (i) of subsection (1).
(5) Where a court imposes a fine, the court may suspend the payment thereof-
(a) until the expiration of a period not exceeding five years; or
(b) on condition that the fine is paid over a period not exceeding five years in
instalments and at intervals determined by the court.
(6) (a) A court which sentences a person to a term of imprisonment as an
alternative to a fine or, if the court which has imposed such sentence was a regional
court or a magistrate's court, a magistrate, may, where the fine is not paid, at any
stage before the expiration of the period of imprisonment, suspend the operation of
the sentence and order the release of the person concerned on such conditions relating
to the payment of the fine or such portion thereof as may still be due, as to the court
or, in the case of a sentence imposed by a regional court or magistrate's court, the
magistrate, may seem expedient, including a condition that the person concerned take
up a specified employment and that the fine due be paid in instalments by the person
concerned or his employer: Provided that the power conferred by this subsection shall
not be exercised by a magistrate where the court which has imposed the sentence has
so ordered.
(b) A court which has suspended a sentence under paragraph (a), whether
differently constituted or not, or any court of equal or superior jurisdiction, or a
magistrate who has suspended a sentence in terms of paragraph (a), may at any time-
(i) further suspend the operation of the sentence on any existing or additional
conditions which to the court or magistrate may seem expedient; or
(ii) cancel the order of suspension and recommit the person concerned to serve
the balance of the sentence.
[Sub-s. (6) substituted by s. 21 of Act 59 of 1983.]

(7) A court which has-

(a) postponed the passing of sentence under paragraph (a) (i) of subsection
(1);
(b) suspended the operation of a sentence under subsection (1) (b) or (4); or
(c) suspended the payment of a fine under subsection (5),
whether differently constituted or not, or any court of equal or superior jurisdiction
may, if satisfied that the person concerned has through circumstances beyond his
control been unable to comply with any relevant condition, or for any other good and
sufficient reason, further postpone the passing of sentence or further suspend the
operation of a sentence or the payment of a fine, as the case may be, subject to any
existing condition or such further conditions as could have been imposed at the time of
such postponement or suspension.
(8) A court which has-
(a) postponed the passing of sentence under paragraph (a) (i) of subsection
(1); or
(b) suspended the operation of a sentence under subsection (1) (b) or under
subsection (4),

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on condition that the person concerned perform community service or that he submit
himself to instruction or treatment or to the supervision or control of a probation
officer or that he attend or reside at a specified centre for a specified purpose, may,
whether or not the court is constituted differently than it was at the time of such
postponement or suspension, at any time during the period of postponement or
suspension on good cause shown amend any such condition or substitute any other
competent condition for such condition, or cancel the order of postponement or
suspension and impose a competent sentence or put the suspended sentence into
operation, as the case may be.
[Sub-s. (8) amended by s. 20 (c) of Act 33 of 1986.]

(8A) (a) A court which under this section has imposed a condition according to
which the person concerned is required to perform community service, to undergo
instruction or treatment or to attend or reside at a specified centre for a specified
purpose, shall cause to be served upon the person concerned a notice in writing
directing him to report on a date and time specified in the notice or (if prevented from
doing so by circumstances beyond his control) as soon as practicable thereafter, to the
person specified in that notice, whether within or outside the area of jurisdiction of the
court, in order to perform that community service, to undergo that instruction or
treatment or to attend that centre or to reside thereat, as the case may be.
(b) A copy of the said notice shall serve as authority to the person mentioned
therein to have that community service performed by the person concerned or to
provide that instruction or treatment to the person concerned or to allow the person
concerned to attend that centre or to reside thereat.
[Sub-s. (8A) inserted by s. 20 (d) of Act 33 of 1986.]

(8B) Any person who-

(a) when he reports to perform community service, to undergo instruction or
treatment or to attend or reside at a specified centre for a specified
purpose, is under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs or the like; or
(b) impersonates or falsely represents himself to be the person who has been
directed to perform the community service in question, to undergo the
instruction or treatment in question or to attend or reside at the specified
centre for the specified purpose,
shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to imprisonment for a period not
exceeding three months.
[Sub-s. (8B) inserted by s. 20 (d) of Act 33 of 1986.]

(9) (a) If any condition imposed under this section is not complied with, the person
concerned may upon the order of any court, or if it appears from information under
oath that the person concerned has failed to comply with such condition, upon the
order of any magistrate, regional magistrate or judge, as the case may be, be arrested
or detained and, where the condition in question-
(i) was imposed under paragraph (a) (i) of subsection (1), be brought before
the court which postponed the passing of sentence or before any court of
equal or superior jurisdiction; or
(ii) was imposed under subsection (1) (b), (4) or (5), be brought before the
court which suspended the operation of the sentence or, as the case may
be, the payment of the fine, or any court of equal or superior jurisdiction,
and such court, whether or not it is, in the case of a court other than a court of equal
or superior jurisdiction, constituted differently than it was at the time of such
postponement or suspension, may then, in the case of subparagraph (i), impose any
competent sentence or, in the case of subparagraph (ii), put into operation the
sentence which was suspended.
[Para. (a) amended by s. 49 of Act 129 of 1993 and by s. 99 (1) of Act 75 of 2008.]
(b) A person who has been called upon under paragraph (a) (ii) of subsection (1)
to appear before the court may, upon the order of the court in question, be arrested
and brought before that court, and such court, whether or not constituted differently
than it was at the time of the postponement of sentence, may impose upon such

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 154 of 221

person any competent sentence.

297A Liability for patrimonial loss arising from performance of community

service
(1) If patrimonial loss may be recovered from an accused on the ground of a delict
committed by him in the performance of community service in terms of section 297,
that loss may, subject to subsection (3), be recovered from the State.
(2) Subsection (1) shall not be construed as precluding the State from obtaining
indemnification against its liability in terms of subsection (1) by means of insurance or
otherwise.
(3) The patrimonial loss which may be recovered from the State in terms of
subsection (1) shall be reduced by the amount from any other source to which the
injured person is entitled by reason of the patrimonial loss suffered by him.
(4) In so far as the State has made a payment by virtue of a right of recovery in
terms of subsection (1), all the relevant right and legal remedies of the injured person
against the accused shall pass to the State.
(5) If any person as a result of the performance of community service in terms of
section 297 has suffered patrimonial loss which cannot be recovered from the State in
terms of subsection (1), the Director-General: Justice may, with the concurrence of the
Treasury, as an act of grace pay such amount as he may deem reasonable to that
person.
[S. 297A inserted by s. 21 of Act 33 of 1986.]

297B Agreement on operation of suspended sentences

(1) The State President may, on such conditions as he may deem necessary, enter
into an international agreement with any state, so as to provide, on a reciprocal basis,
for the putting into operation of suspended sentences in respect of persons convicted,
within the jurisdiction of the Republic or of such state, of an offence mentioned in the
agreement.
(2) The State President may, if the parties agree, amend such an agreement to the
extent which he deems necessary.
(3) If an application is made for a suspended sentence, imposed by a court of a
state referred to in subsection (1), to be put into operation, the court at which the
application is made shall, subject to the terms of the agreement, proceed with that
application as if the suspended sentence was imposed by a court in the Republic.
(4) (a) An agreement referred to in subsection (1), or any amendment thereof, shall
only be in force after it has been published by the State President by proclamation in
the Gazette.
(b) The State President may at any time and in like manner withdraw any such
agreement.
[S. 297B, previously s. 297A, inserted by s. 1 of Act 8 of 1989 and renumbered by s. 6 of Act
77 of 1989.]

298 Sentence may be corrected

When by mistake a wrong sentence is passed, the court may, before or immediately
after it is recorded, amend the sentence.

299 Warrant for the execution of sentence

A warrant for the execution of any sentence may be issued by the judge or judicial
officer who passed the sentence or by any other judge or judicial officer of the court in
question, or, in the case of a regional court, by any magistrate, and such warrant shall
commit the person concerned to the prison for the magisterial district in which such
person is sentenced.

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299A Right of complainant to make representations in certain matters with

regard to placement on parole, on day parole, or under correctional
supervision
(1) When a court sentences a person to imprisonment for-
(a) murder or any other offence which involves the intentional killing of a
person;
(b) rape or compelled rape as contemplated in sections 3 or 4 of the Criminal
Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007,
respectively;
(c) robbery where the wielding of a fire-arm or any other dangerous weapon or
the infliction of grievous bodily harm or the robbery of a motor vehicle is
involved;
(d) sexual assault, compelled sexual assault or compelled self-sexual assault as
contemplated in section 5, 6 or 7 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and
Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007, respectively;
(e) kidnapping; or
[NB: Para (e) has been substituted by s. 48 of the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in
Persons Act 7 of 2013, a provision which will be put into operation by proclamation. See
PENDLEX.]
(f) any conspiracy, incitement or attempt to commit any offence contemplated
in paragraphs (a) to (e),
[NB: Para (f) has been substituted and a para. (g) has been added by s. 48 of the Prevention
and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act 7 of 2013, a provision which will be put into
operation by proclamation. See PENDLEX.]

it shall inform-
(i) the complainant; or
(ii) in the case of murder or any other offence contemplated in paragraph (a),
any immediate relative of the deceased,
if he or she is present that he or she has a right, subject to the directives issued by the
Commissioner of Correctional Services under subsection (4), to make representations
when placement of the prisoner on parole, on day parole or under correctional
supervision is considered or to attend any relevant meeting of the parole board.
[Sub-s. (1) substituted by s. 68 of Act 32 of 2007.]

(2) If the complainant or a relative intends to exercise the right contemplated in

subsection (1) by making representations to or attending a meeting of the parole
board, he or she has a duty-
(i) to inform the Commissioner of Correctional Services thereof in writing;
(ii) to provide the said Commissioner with his or her postal and physical
address in writing; and
(iii) to inform the said Commissioner in writing of any change of address.
(3) The Commissioner of Correctional Services shall inform the parole board in
question accordingly and that parole board shall inform the complainant or relative in
writing when and to whom he or she may make representations or when and where a
meeting will take place.
(4) (a) The Commissioner of Correctional Services must issue directives regarding
the manner and circumstances in which a complainant or relative contemplated in
subsection (1) may exercise the right contemplated in that subsection.
(b) Directives issued under paragraph (a) must be published in the Gazette 26.
(c) Before the directives issued under paragraph (a) are published in the Gazette,
the Commissioner of Correctional Services must submit them to Parliament, and the
first directives so issued, must be submitted to Parliament within three months of the
commencement of this section.
(d) Any directive issued under paragraph (a) may be amended or withdrawn in

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 156 of 221

like manner.
[S. 299A inserted by s. 6 of Act 55 of 2003.]
26 Directives published - GN R248 in GG 28646 of 7 April 2006

CHAPTER 29
COMPENSATION AND RESTITUTION (ss 300-301)

300 Court may award compensation where offence causes damage to or loss
of property
(1) Where a person is convicted by a superior court, a regional court or a
magistrate's court of an offence which has caused damage to or loss of property
(including money) belonging to some other person, the court in question may, upon
the application of the injured person or of the prosecutor acting on the instructions of
the injured person, forthwith award the injured person compensation for such damage
or loss: Provided that-
(a) a regional court or a magistrate's court shall not make any such award if
the compensation applied for exceeds the amount 27 determined by the
Minister from time to time by notice in the Gazette in respect of the
respective courts.
[Para. (a) substituted by s. 16 of Act 56 of 1979, by s. 7 of Act 109 of 1984 and by s. 14 of
Act 5 of 1991.]
(b) ......
[Para. (b) deleted by s. 12 of Act 26 of 1987.]

(2) For the purposes of determining the amount of the compensation or the liability
of the convicted person therefor, the court may refer to the evidence and the
proceedings at the trial or hear further evidence either upon affidavit or orally.
(3) (a) An award made under this section-
(i) by a magistrate's court, shall have the effect of a civil judgment of that
court;
(ii) by a regional court, shall have the effect of a civil judgment of the
magistrate's court of the district in which the relevant trial took place.
(b) Where a superior court makes an award under this section, the registrar of
the court shall forward a certified copy of the award to the clerk of the magistrate's
court designated by the presiding judge or, if no such court is designated, to the clerk
of the magistrate's court in whose area of jurisdiction the offence in question was
committed, and thereupon such award shall have the effect of a civil judgment of that
magistrate's court.
(4) Where money of the person convicted is taken from him upon his arrest, the
court may order that payment be made forthwith from such money in satisfaction or
on account of the award.
(5) (a) A person in whose favour an award has been made under this section may
within sixty days after the date on which the award was made, in writing renounce the
award by lodging with the registrar or clerk of the court in question a document of
renunciation and, where applicable, by making a repayment of any moneys paid under
subsection (4).
(b) Where the person concerned does not renounce an award under paragraph
(a) within the period of sixty days, no person against whom the award was made shall
be liable at the suit of the person concerned to any other civil proceedings in respect of
the injury for which the award was made.
27 R1 000 000 in respect of a regional court, and R300 000 in respect of a magistrates' court -
GN R62 in GG 36111 of 30 January 2013

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 157 of 221

301 Compensation to innocent purchaser of property unlawfully obtained

Where a person is convicted of theft or of any other offence whereby he has
unlawfully obtained any property, and it appears to the court on the evidence that such
person sold such property or part thereof to another person who had no knowledge
that the property was stolen or unlawfully obtained, the court may, on the application
of such purchaser and on restitution of such property to the owner thereof, order that,
out of any money of such convicted person taken from him on his arrest, a sum not
exceeding the amount paid by the purchaser be returned to him.

CHAPTER 30
REVIEWS AND APPEALS IN CASES OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS IN LOWER
COURTS (ss 302-314)

302 Sentences subject to review in the ordinary course

(1) (a) Any sentence imposed by a magistrate's court-
(i) which, in the case of imprisonment (including detention in a child and youth
care centre providing a programme contemplated in section 191 (2) (j) of
the Children's Act, 2005 (Act 38 of 2005)), exceeds a period of three
months, if imposed by a judicial officer who has not held the substantive
rank of magistrate or higher for a period of seven years, or which exceeds a
period of six months, if imposed by a judicial officer who has held the
substantive rank of magistrate or higher for a period of seven years or
longer;
[Sub-para. (i) substituted by s. 13 (a) of Act 26 of 1987 and by s. 99 (1) of Act 75 of 2008.]
(ii) which, in the case of a fine, exceeds the amount 28 determined by the
Minister from time to time by notice in the Gazette for the respective
judicial officers referred to in subparagraph (i),
[Sub-para. (ii) substituted by s. 8 of Act 109 of 1984 and by s. 15 of Act 5 of 1991.]
(iii) ......
[Sub-para. (iii) deleted by s. 2 of Act 33 of 1997.]

shall be subject in the ordinary course to review by a judge of the provincial or local
division having jurisdiction.
(b) The provisions of paragraph (a) shall-
(i) be suspended in respect of an accused referred to in the first proviso to
section 309 (1) (a) who has duly noted an appeal in terms of section 309
(2) against a conviction or sentence and has not abandoned the appeal;
(ii) be suspended in respect of an accused who has duly noted an appeal in
terms of section 309 (2) against a conviction or sentence, after being
granted leave to appeal in terms of section 309B or 309C, and has not
abandoned the appeal; and
(iii) cease to apply in respect of an accused when judgment in the appeal is
given.
[Para. (b) substituted by s. 1 of Act 42 of 2003.]
[Sub-s. (1) amended by s. 11 of Act 105 of 1982.]

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)-

(a) each sentence on a separate charge shall be regarded as a separate
sentence, and the fact that the aggregate of sentences imposed on an
accused in respect of more than one charge in the same proceedings
exceeds the periods or amounts referred to in that subsection, shall not
render those sentences subject to review in the ordinary course.
(b) ......
[Para. (b) deleted by s. 22 of Act 59 of 1983.]

(3) The provisions of subsection (1) shall only apply-

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 158 of 221

(a) with reference to a sentence which is imposed in respect of an accused who

was not assisted by a legal adviser.
(b) ......
[Para. (b) deleted by s. 13 (b) of Act 26 of 1987.]
28 R6 000 in the case of a judicial officer who has not held the substantive rank of magistrate or
higher for a period of seven years, and R12 000 in the case of a judicial officer who has held the
substantive rank of magistrate or higher for a period of seven years or longer - GN R62 in GG 36111
of 30 January 2013

303 Transmission of record

The clerk of the court in question shall within one week after the determination of a
case referred to in paragraph (a) of section 302 (1) forward to the registrar of the
provincial or local division having jurisdiction the record of the proceedings in the case
or a copy thereof certified by such clerk, together with such remarks as the presiding
judicial officer may wish to append thereto, and with any written statement or
argument which the person convicted may within three days after imposition of the
sentence furnish to the clerk of the court, and such registrar shall, as soon as possible,
lay the same in chambers before a judge of that division for his consideration.
[S. 303 amended by s. 12 of Act 105 of 1982.]

304 Procedure on review

(1) If, upon considering the proceedings referred to in section 303 and any further
information or evidence which may, by direction of the judge, be supplied or taken by
the magistrate's court in question, it appears to the judge that the proceedings are in
accordance with justice, he shall endorse his certificate to that effect upon the record
thereof, and the registrar concerned shall then return the record to the magistrate's
court in question.
(2) (a) If, upon considering the said proceedings, it appears to the judge that the
proceedings are not in accordance with justice or that doubt exists whether the
proceedings are in accordance with justice, he shall obtain from the judicial officer who
presided at the trial a statement setting forth his reasons for convicting the accused
and for the sentence imposed, and shall thereupon lay the record of the proceedings
and the said statement before the court of the provincial or local division having
jurisdiction for consideration by that court as a court of appeal: Provided that where
the judge concerned is of the opinion that the conviction or sentence imposed is clearly
not in accordance with justice and that the person convicted may be prejudiced if the
record of the proceedings is not forthwith placed before the provincial or local division
having jurisdiction, the judge may lay the record of the proceedings before that court
without obtaining the statement of the judicial officer who presided at the trial.
[Para. (a) amended by s. 13 of Act 105 of 1982.]
(b) Such court may at any sitting thereof hear any evidence and for that purpose
summon any person to appear to give evidence or to produce any document or other
article.
(c) Such court, whether or not it has heard evidence, may, subject to the
provisions of section 312-
(i) confirm, alter or quash the conviction, and in the event of the conviction
being quashed where the accused was convicted on one of two or more
alternative charges, convict the accused on the other alternative charge or
on one or other of the alternative charges;
(ii) confirm, reduce, alter or set aside the sentence or any order of the
magistrate's court;
(iii) set aside or correct the proceedings of the magistrate's court;
(iv) generally give such judgment or impose such sentence or make such order
as the magistrate's court ought to have given, imposed or made on any

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 159 of 221

matter which was before it at the trial of the case in question; or

(v) remit the case to the magistrate's court with instructions to deal with any
matter in such manner as the provincial or local division may think fit; and
[Sub-para. (v) amended by s. 13 of Act 105 of 1982.]
(vi) make any such order in regard to the suspension of the execution of any
sentence against the person convicted or the admission of such person to
bail, or, generally, in regard to any matter or thing connected with such
person or the proceedings in regard to such person as to the court seems
likely to promote the ends of justice.
(3) If the court desires to have a question of law or of fact arising in any case
argued, it may direct such question to be argued by the attorney-general and by such
counsel as the court may appoint.
(4) If in any criminal case in which a magistrate's court has imposed a sentence
which is not subject to review in the ordinary course in terms of section 302 or in
which a regional court has imposed any sentence, it is brought to the notice of the
provincial or local division having jurisdiction or any judge thereof that the proceedings
in which the sentence was imposed were not in accordance with justice, such court or
judge shall have the same powers in respect of such proceedings as if the record
thereof had been laid before such court or judge in terms of section 303 or this
section.
[Sub-s. (4) amended by s. 13 of Act 105 of 1982.]

304A Review of proceedings before sentence

(a) If a magistrate or regional magistrate after conviction but before sentence
is of the opinion that the proceedings in respect of which he brought in a
conviction are not in accordance with justice, or that doubt exists whether
the proceedings are in accordance with justice, he shall, without sentencing
the accused, record the reasons for his opinion and transmit them, together
with the record of the proceedings, to the registrar of the provincial division
having jurisdiction, and such registrar shall, as soon as is practicable, lay
the same for review in chambers before a judge, who shall have the same
powers in respect of such proceedings as if the record thereof had been laid
before him in terms of section 303.
(b) When a magistrate or a regional magistrate acts in terms of paragraph (a),
he shall inform the accused accordingly and postpone the case to some
future date pending the outcome of the review proceedings and, if the
accused is in custody, the magistrate or regional magistrate may make
such order with regard to the detention or release of the accused as he may
deem fit.
[S. 304A inserted by s. 22 of Act 33 of 1986.]

305 ......
[S. 305 amended by s. 14 of Act 105 of 1982 and repealed by s. 1 of Act 76 of 1997.]

306 Accused may set down case for argument

(1) A magistrate's court imposing sentence which under section 302 is subject to
review, shall forthwith inform the person convicted that the record of the proceedings
will be transmitted within one week, and such person may then inspect and make a
copy of such record before transmission or whilst in the possession of the provincial or
local division, and may set down the case for argument before the provincial or local
division having jurisdiction in like manner as if the record had been returned or
transmitted to such provincial or local division in compliance with any order made by it
for the purpose of bringing in review the proceedings of a magistrate's court.
[Sub-s. (1) amended by s. 15 of Act 105 of 1982.]

(2) Whenever a case is so set down, whether the offence in question was
prosecuted at the instance of the State or at the instance of a private prosecutor, a
written notice shall be served, by or on behalf of the person convicted, upon the

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attorney-general at his office not less than seven days before the day appointed for
the argument, setting forth the name and number of the case, the court before which
it was tried, the date for which the case has been set down for argument and the
grounds or reasons upon which the judgment is sought to be reversed or altered.
(3) Whether such judgment is confirmed or reversed or altered, no costs shall in
respect of the proceedings on review be payable by the prosecution to the person
convicted or by the person convicted to the prosecution.

307 Execution of sentence not suspended unless bail granted

(1) Subject to the provisions of section 308, the execution of any sentence shall not
be suspended by the transmission of or the obligation to transmit the record for review
unless the court which imposed the sentence releases the person convicted on bail.
(2) If the court releases such person on bail, the court may-
(a) if the person concerned was released on bail under section 59 or 60, extend
the bail, either in the same amount or any other amount; or
(b) if such person was not so released on bail, release him or her on bail on
condition that he or she deposits with the clerk of the court or with a
member of the Department of Correctional Services at the prison where
such person is in custody or with any police official at the place where such
convicted person is in custody, the sum of money determined by the court
in question; or
[Para. (b) substituted by s. 8 of Act 64 of 1982 and by s. 12 (a) of Act 75 of 1995 and
amended by s. 4 of Act 18 of 1996.]
(c) on good cause shown, permit such person to furnish a guarantee, with or
without sureties, that he will pay and forfeit to the State the sum of money
determined under paragraph (b), in circumstances under which such sum, if
it had been deposited, would be forfeited to the State.
(3) It shall be a condition of the release of the person convicted that he shall-
(a) at a time and place specified by the court; and
(b) upon service, in the manner prescribed by the rules of court, of a written
order upon him or at a place specified by the court,
surrender himself in order that effect may be given to any sentence in respect of the
proceedings in question.
(3A) (a) If the order contemplated in subsection (3) (b) is not served on the
convicted person within 14 days of the issuing thereof because he or she cannot be
found at the address given by him or her at the time of the granting of bail to him or
her, the bail shall be provisionally cancelled and the bail money provisionally forfeited
and a warrant for his or her arrest shall be issued.
(b) The provisions of section 67 (2) in respect of the confirmation or the lapsing
of the provisional cancellation of bail or the forfeiture of bail money, and making final
the provisional forfeiture of bail money, the provisions of section 67 (3) in respect of
the hearing of evidence, and the provisions of section 70 in respect of the remission of
forfeited bail money, shall mutatis mutandis apply in respect of bail pending review.
[Sub-s. (3A) inserted by s. 12 (b) of Act 75 of 1995.]

(4) The court may add any condition of release on bail which it may deem necessary
or advisable in the interests of justice, inter alia, as to-
(a) the reporting in person by the person convicted at any specified time and
place to any specified person or authority;
(b) any place to which such person is prohibited to go;
(c) any other matter relating to the conduct of such person.
(5) The court which considers an application for bail under this section shall record
the relevant proceedings in full, including the details referred to in subsection (3) and
any conditions imposed under subsection (4).

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(6) The provisions of sections 63, 64, 65, 66 and 68 shall mutatis mutandis apply
with reference to bail pending review.
[Sub-s. (6) substituted by s. 17 of Act 56 of 1979 and by s. 12 (c) of Act 75 of 1995.]

308 ......
[S. 308 amended by s. 16 of Act 105 of 1982 and by s. 23 of Act 33 of 1986 and repealed by
s. 2 of Act 33 of 1997.]

308A Correctional supervision not suspended unless bail granted

The execution of a sentence of correctional supervision referred to in section 276
(1) (h), shall not be suspended by the transmission of the record for review in terms of
section 304 (4), unless the court which imposed the sentence releases the person
convicted-
(a) on bail, in which case the provisions of section 307 (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6)
shall mutatis mutandis apply;
(b) on warning on a condition as contemplated in section 307 (3), in which case
the provisions of section 72 shall mutatis mutandis apply to the extent to
which they can be applied.
[S. 308A inserted by s. 50 of Act 129 of 1993.]

309 Appeal from lower court by person convicted

(1) (a) Subject to section 84 of the Child Justice Act, 2008 (Act 75 of 2008), any
person convicted of any offence by any lower court (including a person discharged
after conviction) may, subject to leave to appeal being granted in terms of section
309B or 309C, appeal against such conviction and against any resultant sentence or
order to the High Court having jurisdiction: Provided that if that person was sentenced
to imprisonment for life by a regional court under section 51 (1) of the Criminal Law
Amendment Act, 1997 (Act 105 of 1997), he or she may note such an appeal without
having to apply for leave in terms of section 309B: Provided further that the provisions
of section 302 (1) (b) shall apply in respect of a person who duly notes an appeal
against a conviction, sentence or order as contemplated in section 302 (1) (a).
[Para. (a) amended by s. 17 of Act 105 of 1982 and substituted by s. 2 (a) of Act 76 of 1997,
by s. 2 (a) of Act 42 of 2003, by s. 6 of Act 38 of 2007, by s. 99 (1) of Act 75 of 2008 and by
s. 10 of Act 42 of 2013.]
(b) Where, in the case of a regional court, a conviction takes place within the
area of jurisdiction of one provincial division and any resultant sentence or order is
passed or, as the case may be, is made within the area of jurisdiction of another
provincial division, any appeal against such conviction or such sentence or order shall
be heard by the last mentioned provincial division.
(2) An appeal under this section shall be noted and be prosecuted within the period
and in the manner prescribed by the rules of court: Provided that the magistrate
against whose decision or order the appeal is to be noted, or if he or she is unavailable
any other magistrate of the court concerned, may on application and on good cause
shown, extend such period.
[Sub-s. (2) amended by s. 17 of Act 105 of 1982 and substituted by s. 2 (b) of Act 76 of
1977.]

(3) The provincial or local division concerned shall thereupon have the powers
referred to in section 304 (2), and, unless the appeal is based solely upon a question
of law, the provincial or local division shall, in addition to such powers, have the power
to increase any sentence imposed upon the appellant or to impose any other form of
sentence in lieu of or in addition to such sentence: Provided that, notwithstanding that
the provincial or local division is of the opinion that any point raised might be decided
in favour of the appellant, no conviction or sentence shall be reversed or altered by
reason of any irregularity or defect in the record or proceedings, unless it appears to
such division that a failure of justice has in fact resulted from such irregularity or
defect.
[Sub-s. (3) amended by s. 17 of Act 105 of 1982, by s. 8 of Act 107 of 1990 and by s. 38 of
Act 105 of 1997.]

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(3A) ......
[Sub-s. (3A) inserted by s. 2 (c) of Act 76 of 1977, substituted by s. 2 (b) of Act 42 of 2003
and deleted by s. 13 of Act 66 of 2008.]

(4) When an appeal under this section is noted, the provisions of-
(a) ......
[Para. (a) deleted by s. 2 (d) of Act 76 of 1997.]
(b) sections 307 and 308A shall mutatis mutandis apply with reference to the
sentence appealed against.
[Para. (b) substituted by s. 51 of Act 129 of 1993 and by s. 2 of Act 33 of 1997.]

(5) When a provincial or local division of the Supreme Court gives a decision on
appeal against a decision of the magistrate's court and the former decision is appealed
against, such division of the Supreme Court has the powers in respect of the granting
of bail which a magistrate's court has in terms of section 307.
[Sub-s. (5) added by s. 13 of Act 75 of 1995.]

309A Appeal against conviction and sentence of chiefs, headmen and chiefs'
deputies
(1) In hearing any appeal to him under the provisions of section 20 of the Black
Administration Act, 1927 (Act 38 of 1927), the magistrate shall hear and record such
available evidence as may be relevant to any question in issue and shall thereupon
either-
(a) confirm or vary the conviction and-
(i) confirm the sentence imposed by the chief, headman or chief's
deputy and order that the said sentence be satisfied forthwith; or
(ii) set aside the sentence imposed by the chief, headman or chief's
deputy and in lieu thereof impose such other sentence as in his
opinion ought to have been imposed; and
(iii) impose a sentence of imprisonment for a period not exceeding
three months on default of compliance forthwith with the order or
sentence made or imposed under subparagraph (i) or (ii); or
(iv) set aside the sentence imposed by the chief, headman or chief's
deputy and in lieu thereof impose a sentence of imprisonment for a
period not exceeding three months without the option of a fine;
or-
(b) uphold the appeal and set aside the conviction and sentence.
(2) The magistrate shall issue in respect of any person who has been sentenced to
imprisonment under subsection (1), a warrant for his detention in a prison.
[S. 309A inserted by s. 2 of Act 34 of 1986.]

309B Application for leave to appeal

(1) (a) Subject to section 84 of the Child Justice Act, 2008 (Act 75 of 2008), any
accused, other than a person referred to in the first proviso to section 309 (1) (a), who
wishes to note an appeal against any conviction or against any resultant sentence or
order of a lower court, must apply to that court for leave to appeal against that
conviction, sentence or order.
[Para. (a) substituted by s. 99 (1) of Act 75 of 2008 and by s. 11 of Act 42 of 2013.]
(b) An application referred to in paragraph (a) must be made-
(i) within 14 days after the passing of the sentence or order following on the
conviction; or
(ii) within such extended period as the court may on application and for good
cause shown, allow.
(2) (a) Any application in terms of subsection (1) must be heard by the magistrate
whose conviction, sentence or order is the subject of the prospective appeal
(hereinafter referred to as the trial magistrate) or, if the trial magistrate is not

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available, by any other magistrate of the court concerned, to whom it is assigned

for hearing.
(b) If the application is to be heard by a magistrate, other than the trial
magistrate, the clerk of the court must submit a copy of the record of the proceedings
before the trial magistrate to the magistrate hearing the application: Provided that
where the accused was legally represented at a trial in a regional court the clerk of the
court must, subject to paragraph (c), only submit a copy of the judgment of the trial
magistrate, including the reasons for the conviction, sentence or order in respect of
which the appeal is sought to be noted to the magistrate hearing the application.
(c) The magistrate referred to in the proviso to paragraph (b) may, if he or she
deems it necessary in order to decide the application, request the full record of the
proceedings before the trial magistrate.
(d) Notice of the date fixed for the hearing of the application must be given to
the Director of Public Prosecutions concerned, or to a person designated thereto by
him or her, and the accused.
(3) (a) Every application for leave to appeal must set forth clearly and specifically
the grounds upon which the accused desires to appeal.
(b) If the accused applies orally for such leave immediately after the passing of
the sentence or order, he or she must state such grounds, which must be recorded and
form part of the record.
(4) (a) If an application for leave to appeal under subsection (1) is granted, the
clerk of the court must, in accordance with the rules of the court, transmit copies of
the record and of all relevant documents to the registrar of the High Court concerned:
Provided that instead of the whole record, with the consent of the accused and the
Director of Public Prosecutions, copies (one of which must be certified) may be
transmitted of such parts of the record as may be agreed upon by the Director of
Public Prosecutions and the accused to be sufficient, in which event the High Court
concerned may nevertheless call for the production of the whole record.
(b) If any application referred to in this section is refused, the magistrate must
immediately record his or her reasons for such refusal.
(5) (a) An application for leave to appeal may be accompanied by an application to
adduce further evidence (hereafter referred to as an application for further evidence)
relating to the conviction, sentence or order in respect of which the appeal is sought to
be noted.
(b) An application for further evidence must be supported by an affidavit stating
that-
(i) further evidence which would presumably be accepted as true, is available;
(ii) if accepted the evidence could reasonably lead to a different decision or
order; and
(iii) there is a reasonably acceptable explanation for the failure to produce the
evidence before the close of the trial.
(c) The court granting an application for further evidence must-
(i) receive that evidence and further evidence rendered necessary thereby,
including evidence in rebuttal called by the prosecutor and evidence called
by the court; and
(ii) record its findings or views with regard to that evidence, including the
cogency and the sufficiency of the evidence, and the demeanour and
credibility of any witness.
(6) Any evidence received under subsection (5) shall for the purposes of an appeal
be deemed to be evidence taken or admitted at the trial in question.
[S. 309B inserted by s. 3 of Act 76 of 1997 and substituted by s. 3 of Act 42 of 2003.]

309C Petition procedure

(1) In this section-

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(a) 'application for condonation' means an application referred to in the

proviso to section 309 (2), or referred to in section 309B (1) (b) (ii);
(b) 'application for leave to appeal' means an application referred to in
section 309B (1) (a);
(c) 'application for further evidence' means an application to adduce further
evidence referred to in section 309B (5) (a); and
(d) 'petition', unless the context otherwise indicates, includes an application
referred to in subsection (2) (b) (ii).
(2) (a) If any application-
(i) for condonation;
(ii) for further evidence; or
(iii) for leave to appeal,
is refused by a lower court, the accused may by petition apply to the Judge President
of the High Court having jurisdiction to grant any one or more of the applications in
question.
(b) Any petition referred to in paragraph (a) must be made-
(i) within 21 days after the application in question was refused; or
(ii) within such extended period as may on an application accompanying that
petition, for good cause shown, be allowed.
(3) (a) If more than one application referred to in subsection (1) relate to the same
matter, they should, as far as is possible, be dealt with in the same petition.
(b) An accused who submits a petition in terms of subsection (2) must at the
same time give notice thereof to the clerk of the lower court referred to in subsection
(2) (a).
(4) When receiving the notice referred to in subsection (3), the clerk of the court
must without delay submit to the registrar of the High Court concerned copies of-
(a) the application that was refused;
(b) the magistrate's reasons for refusal of the application; and
(c) the record of the proceedings in the magistrate's court in respect of which
the application was refused.
[Sub-s. (4) substituted by s. 14 of Act 66 of 2008.]

(5) (a) A petition as provided for in this section must be considered in chambers by
two judges designated by the Judge President.
(b) If the judges referred to in paragraph (a) differ in opinion, the petition must
also be considered in chambers by the Judge President or by any other judge
designated by the Judge President.
(c) For the purposes of paragraph (b) any decision of the majority of the judges
considering the petition, shall be deemed to be the decision of all three judges.
[Sub-s. (5) substituted by s. 14 of Act 66 of 2008.]

(6) Judges considering a petition may-

(a) call for any further information from the magistrate who refused the
application in question, or from the magistrate who presided at the trial to
which the application relates, as the case may be; or
(b) in exceptional circumstances, order that the petition or any part thereof be
argued before them at a time and place determined by them.
[Sub-s. (6) substituted by s. 14 of Act 66 of 2008.]

(7) Judges considering a petition may, whether they have acted under subsection
(6) (a) or (b) or not-
(a) in the case of an application referred to in subsection (2) (b) (ii), grant or
refuse the application; and
(b) in the case of an application for condonation, grant or refuse the

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application, and if the application is granted-

(i)
direct that an application for leave to appeal must be made, within
the period fixed by them, to the court referred to in section 309B
(1); or
(ii) if they deem it expedient, direct that an application for leave to
appeal must be submitted under subsection (2) within the period
fixed by them as if it had been refused by the court referred to in
section 309B (1); and
(c) in the case of an application for leave to appeal, subject to paragraph (d),
grant or refuse the application; and
(d) in the case of an application for further evidence, grant or refuse the
application, and, if the application is granted the judges may, before
deciding the application for leave to appeal, remit the matter to the
magistrate's court concerned in order that further evidence may be
received in accordance with section 309B (5).
(8) All applications contained in a petition must be disposed of-
(a) as far as is possible, simultaneously; and
(b) as a matter of urgency, where the accused was sentenced to any form of
imprisonment that was not wholly suspended.
(9) Notice of the date fixed for any hearing of a petition under this section, and of
any place determined under subsection (6) for any hearing, must be given to the
Director of Public Prosecutions concerned, or to a person designated by him or her,
and the accused.
[S. 309C inserted by s. 3 of Act 76 of 1997 and substituted by s. 3 of Act 42 of 2003.]

309D Explanation of certain rights to unrepresented and certain other

accused
(1) (a) Other than a child contemplated in the Child Justice Act, 2008 (Act 75 of
2008), an accused-
(i) referred to in the first proviso to section 309 (1) (a); or
(ii) who is unrepresented at the time he or she is convicted and sentenced,
must be informed by the presiding officer of his or her rights in respect of appeal and
legal representation and of the correct procedures to give effect to these rights.
[Para. (a) substituted by s. 99 (1) of Act 75 of 2008 and by s. 12 of Act 42 of 2013.]
(b) An accused whose sentence is subject to review in the ordinary course in
terms of section 302 (1) (a), must be informed by the presiding officer that the
provisions pertaining to such review-
(i) shall be suspended if he or she appeals against that conviction or sentence;
and
(ii) shall cease to apply once judgment in the appeal has been given.
(2) An accused contemplated in subsection (1) (a) in respect of whom an
application in terms of the proviso to section 309 (2) or 309B is refused, must be
informed by the presiding officer of his or her rights in respect of the proceedings
contemplated in section 309C and legal representation and of the correct procedures
involved to give effect to these rights.
(3) If an unrepresented accused has been convicted and sentenced-
(a) to any form of imprisonment that was not wholly suspended; or
(b) to any form of punishment which in view of the presiding officer may lead
to substantial injustice for the accused,
and he or she indicates to the presiding officer his or her intention to apply for leave to
appeal in terms of section 309B (1) (a) or for leave to petition in terms of section 309C
(2) (a), the presiding officer must refer the accused to Legal Aid South Africa referred
to in section 2 of the Legal Aid South Africa Act, 2014, for the purpose of allowing him

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or her an opportunity to request legal representation to assist such accused in his or

her application.
[Sub-s. (3) amended by s. 25 (1) of Act 39 of 2014.]
[S. 309D inserted by s. 3 of Act 76 of 1997 and substituted by s. 3 of Act 42 of 2003.]

310 Appeal from lower court by prosecutor

(1) When a lower court has in criminal proceedings given a decision in favour of the
accused on any question of law, including an order made under section 85 (2), the
attorney-general or, if a body or a person other than the attorney-general or his
representative, was the prosecutor in the proceedings, then such other prosecutor may
require the judicial officer concerned to state a case for the consideration of the
provincial or local division having jurisdiction, setting forth the question of law and his
decision thereon and, if evidence has been heard, his findings of fact, in so far as they
are material to the question of law.
[Sub-s. (1) amended by s. 18 of Act 105 of 1982.]

(2) When such case has been stated, the attorney-general or other prosecutor, as
the case may be, may appeal from the decision to the provincial or local division
having jurisdiction.
[Sub-s. (2) amended by s. 18 of Act 105 of 1982.]

(3) The provisions of section 309 (2) shall apply with reference to an appeal under
this section.
(4) If the appeal is allowed, the court which gave the decision appealed from shall,
subject to the provisions of subsection (5) and after giving sufficient notice to both
parties, reopen the case in which the decision was given and deal with it in the same
manner as it should have dealt therewith if it had given a decision in accordance with
the law as laid down by the provincial or local division in question.
[Sub-s. (4) amended by s. 18 of Act 105 of 1982.]

(5) In allowing the appeal, whether wholly or in part, the provincial or local division
may itself impose such sentence or make such order as the lower court ought to have
imposed or made, or it may remit the case to the lower court and direct that court to
take such further steps as the provincial or local division considers proper.
[Sub-s. (5) amended by s. 18 of Act 105 of 1982.]

310A Appeal by attorney-general against sentence of lower court

(1) The attorney-general may appeal against a sentence imposed upon an accused
in a criminal case in a lower court, to the provincial or local division having jurisdiction,
provided that an application for leave to appeal has been granted by a judge in
chambers.
(2) (a) A written notice of such an application shall be lodged with the registrar of
the provincial or local division concerned by the attorney-general, within a period of 30
days of the passing of sentence or within such extended period as may on application
on good cause be allowed.
(b) The notice shall state briefly the grounds for the application.
(3) The attorney-general shall, at least 14 days before the day appointed for the
hearing of the application, cause to be served by the deputy sheriff upon the accused
in person a copy of the notice, together with a written statement of the rights of the
accused in terms of subsection (4): Provided that if the deputy sheriff is not able so to
serve a copy of the notice, it may be served in any other manner that may on
application be allowed.
(4) An accused may, within a period of 10 days of the serving of such a notice upon
him, lodge a written submission with the registrar concerned, and the registrar shall
submit it to the judge who is to hear the application, and shall send a copy thereof to
the attorney-general.
(5) Subject to the provisions of this section, section 309 shall apply mutatis
mutandis with reference to an appeal in terms of this section.

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(6) Upon an application for leave to appeal referred to in subsection (1) or an

appeal in terms of this section, the judge or the court, as the case may be, may order
that the State pay the accused concerned the whole or any part of the costs to which
the accused may have been put in opposing the application or appeal, taxed according
to the scale in civil cases of the provincial or local division concerned.
[S. 310A inserted by s. 9 of Act 107 of 1990.]

311 Appeal to Appellate Division

(1) Where the provincial or local division on appeal, whether brought by the
attorney-general or other prosecutor or the person convicted, gives a decision in
favour of the person convicted on a question of law, the attorney-general or other
prosecutor against whom the decision is given may appeal to the Appellate Division of
the Supreme Court, which shall, if it decides the matter in issue in favour of the
appellant, set aside or vary the decision appealed from and, if the matter was brought
before the provincial or local division in terms of-
(a) section 309 (1), re-instate the conviction, sentence or order of the lower
court appealed from, either in its original form or in such a modified form as
the said Appellate Division may consider desirable; or
(b) section 310 (2), give such decision or take such action as the provincial or
local division ought, in the opinion of the said Appellate Division, to have
given or taken (including any action under section 310 (5)), and thereupon
the provisions of section 310 (4) shall mutatis mutandis apply.
[Para. (b) amended by s. 19 of Act 105 of 1982.]
[Sub-s. (1) amended by s. 19 of Act 105 of 1982.]

(2) If an appeal brought by the attorney-general or other prosecutor under this

section or section 310 is dismissed, the court dismissing the appeal may order that the
appellant pay the respondent the costs to which the respondent may have been put in
opposing the appeal, taxed according to the scale in civil cases of that court: Provided
that where the attorney-general is the appellant, the costs which he is so ordered to
pay shall be paid by the State.

312 Review or appeal and failure to comply with subsection (1) (b) or (2) of
section 112
(1) Where a conviction and sentence under section 112 are set aside on review or
appeal on the ground that any provision of subsection (1) (b) or subsection (2) of that
section was not complied with, or on the ground that the provisions of section 113
should have been applied, the court in question shall remit the case to the court by
which the sentence was imposed and direct that court to comply with the provision in
question or to act in terms of section 113, as the case may be.
[Sub-s. (1) substituted by s. 23 of Act 59 of 1983.]

(2) When the provision referred to in subsection (1) is complied with and the judicial
officer is after such compliance not satisfied as is required by section 112 (1) (b) or
112 (2), he shall enter a plea of not guilty whereupon the provisions of section 113
shall apply with reference to the matter.

313 Institution of proceedings de novo when conviction set aside on appeal or

review
The provisions of section 324 shall mutatis mutandis apply with reference to any
conviction and sentence of a lower court that are set aside on appeal or review on any
ground referred to in that section.

314 Obtaining presence of convicted person in lower court after setting aside
of sentence or order
(1) Where a sentence or order imposed or made by a lower court is set aside on
appeal or review and the person convicted is not in custody and the court setting aside
the sentence or order remits the matter to the lower court in order that a fresh

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 168 of 221

sentence or order may be imposed or made, the presence before that court of the
person convicted may be obtained by means of a written notice addressed to that
person calling upon him to appear at a stated place and time on a stated date in order
that such sentence or order may be imposed or made.
(2) The provisions of section 54 (2) and 55 (1) and (2) shall mutatis mutandis apply
with reference to a written notice issued under subsection (1).

CHAPTER 31
APPEALS IN CASES OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS IN SUPERIOR COURTS (ss
315-324)

315 Court of appeal in respect of superior court judgments

(1) (a) In respect of appeals and questions of law reserved in connection with
criminal cases heard by a High Court, the court of appeal shall be the Supreme Court
of Appeal, except in so far as subsections (2) and (3) otherwise provides [sic].
(b) and (c) ......
[Paras. (b) and (c) deleted by s. 15 of Act 66 of 2008.]
[Sub-s. (1) substituted by s. 11 of Act 62 of 2000 and by s. 4 (a) of Act 42 of 2003.]

(2) (a) If an application for leave to appeal in a criminal case heard by a single
judge of a High Court (irrespective of whether he or she sat with or without assessors)
is granted under section 316, the court or judge or judges granting the application
shall, if it, he or she or, in the case of the judges referred to in subsections (12) and
(13) of that section, they or the majority of them, is or are satisfied that the questions
of law and of fact and the other considerations involved in the appeal are of such a
nature that the appeal does not require the attention of the Supreme Court of Appeal,
direct that the appeal be heard by a full court.
(b) Any such direction by the court or a judge of a High Court may be set aside
by the Supreme Court of Appeal on application made to it by the accused or the
Director of Public Prosecutions or other prosecutor within 21 days, or such longer
period as may on application to the Supreme Court of Appeal on good cause shown, be
allowed, after the direction was given.
(c) Any application to the Supreme Court of Appeal under paragraph (b) shall be
submitted by petition addressed to the President of the Supreme Court of Appeal, and
the provisions of section 316 (8), (9), (10), (11), (12), (13), (14) and (15) shall apply
mutatis mutandis in respect thereof.
[Sub-s. (2) amended by s. 39 (a) of Act 105 of 1997 and substituted by s. 4 (b) of Act 42 of
2003.]

(3) An appeal which is to be heard by a full court in terms of a direction under

paragraph (a) of subsection (2) which has not been set aside under paragraph (b) of
that subsection, shall be heard-
(a) in the case of an appeal in a criminal case heard by a single judge of a
provincial division, by the full court of the provincial division concerned;
(b) in the case of an appeal in a criminal case heard by a single judge of a local
division other than the Witwatersrand Local Division, by the full court of the
provincial division which exercises concurrent jurisdiction in the area of
jurisdiction of the local division concerned;
(c) in the case of an appeal in a criminal case heard by a single judge of the
Witwatersrand Local Division-
(i) by the full court of the Transvaal Provincial Division, unless a
direction by the judge president of that provincial division under
subparagraph (ii) applies to it; or
(ii) by the full court of the said local division if the said judge president
has so directed in the particular instance.
(4) An appeal in terms of this Chapter shall lie only as provided in sections 316 to
319 inclusive, and not as of right.

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 169 of 221

[Sub-s. (4) substituted by s. 10 of Act 107 of 1990 and by s. 39 (b) of Act 105 of 1997.]

(5) In this Chapter-

(a) 'court of appeal' means, in relation to an appeal which in terms of
subsection (3) is heard or is to be heard by a full court, the full court
concerned and, in relation to any other appeal, the Supreme Court of
Appeal.
[Para. (a) substituted by s. 4 (c) of Act 42 of 2003.]
(b) 'full court' means the court of a provincial division, or the Witwatersrand
Local Division, sitting as a court of appeal and constituted before three
judges.
[S. 315 substituted by s. 20 of Act 105 of 1982.]

316 Applications for condonation, leave to appeal and further evidence

(1) (a) Subject to section 84 of the Child Justice Act, 2008, any accused convicted
of any offence by a High Court may apply to that court for leave to appeal against such
conviction or against any resultant sentence or order.
[Para. (a) substituted by s. 99 (1) of Act 75 of 2008.]
(b) An application referred to in paragraph (a) must be made-
(i) within 14 days after the passing of the sentence or order following on the
conviction; or
(ii) within such extended period as the court may on application and for good
cause shown, allow.
(c) ......
[Para. (c) deleted by s. 99 (1) of Act 75 of 2008.]

(2) (a) An application referred to in subsection (1) must be made to the judge
whose conviction, sentence or order is the subject of the prospective appeal (hereafter
in this section referred to as the trial judge): Provided that if-
(i) the trial judge is not available; or
(ii) in the case of a conviction before a circuit court the said court is not in
sitting,
the application may be made to any other judge of the High Court concerned.
(b) If the application is to be heard by a judge, other than the trial judge, the
registrar of the court must submit a copy of the judgment of the trial judge, including
the reasons for the conviction, sentence or order in respect of which the appeal is
sought to be noted to the judge hearing the application.
(c) The judge referred to in paragraph (b) may, if he or she deems it necessary
in order to decide the application, request the full record of the proceedings before the
trial judge.
(3) (a) No appeal shall lie against the judgment or order of a full court given on
appeal to it in terms of section 315 (3), except with the special leave of the Supreme
Court of Appeal on application made to it by the accused or, where a full court has for
the purposes of such judgment or order given a decision in favour of the accused on a
question of law, on application on the grounds of such decision made to that court by
the Director of Public Prosecutions or other prosecutor against whom the decision was
given.
(b) An application to the Supreme Court of Appeal under paragraph (a) shall be
submitted by petition addressed to the President of the Supreme Court of Appeal-
(i) within 21 days after the judgment or order against which appeal is to be
made was given; or
(ii) within such extended period as may on application and for good cause
shown, be allowed.
(c) The accused or Director of Public Prosecutions or other prosecutor shall, when
submitting in accordance with paragraph (b) the application for special leave to appeal,
at the same time give written notice that this has been done to the registrar of the

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 170 of 221

court against whose decision he or she wishes to appeal, and thereupon such
registrar shall forward a certified copy of the record prepared in terms of subsection
(7) for the purposes of such judgment or order, and of the reasons for such judgment
or order, to the registrar of the Supreme Court of Appeal.
(d) The provisions of subsections (4), (10), (11), (12), (13), (14) and (15) shall
apply mutatis mutandis with reference to any application and petition contemplated in
paragraph (b) of this subsection.
(e) Upon an appeal under this subsection the provisions of section 322 shall
apply mutatis mutandis with reference to the powers of the Supreme Court of Appeal.
(4) (a) Every application for leave to appeal must set forth clearly and specifically
the grounds upon which the accused desires to appeal.
(b) If the accused applies orally for such leave immediately after the passing of
the sentence or order, he or she must state such grounds, which must be recorded and
form part of the record.
(5) (a) An application for leave to appeal under subsection (1) may be accompanied
by an application to adduce further evidence (hereafter in this section referred to as an
application for further evidence) relating to the prospective appeal.
(b) An application for further evidence must be supported by an affidavit stating
that-
(i) further evidence which would presumably be accepted as true, is available;
(ii) if accepted the evidence could reasonably lead to a different verdict or
sentence; and
(iii) there is a reasonably acceptable explanation for the failure to produce the
evidence before the close of the trial.
(c) The court granting an application for further evidence must-
(i) receive that evidence and further evidence rendered necessary thereby,
including evidence in rebuttal called by the prosecutor and evidence called
by the court; and
(ii) record its findings or views with regard to that evidence, including the
cogency and the sufficiency of the evidence, and the demeanour and
credibility of any witness.
(6) Any evidence received under subsection (5) shall for the purposes of an appeal
be deemed to be evidence taken or admitted at the trial in question.
(7) (a) If an application under subsection (1) for leave to appeal is granted and the
appeal is not under section 315 (3) to be heard by the full court of the High Court from
which the appeal is made, the registrar of the court granting such application shall
cause notice to be given accordingly to the registrar of the Supreme Court of Appeal
without delay, and shall cause to be transmitted to the said registrar a certified copy of
the record, including copies of the evidence, whether oral or documentary, taken or
admitted at the trial, and a statement of the grounds of appeal: Provided that, instead
of the whole record, with the consent of the accused and the Director of Public
Prosecutions, copies (one of which must be certified) may be transmitted of such parts
of the record as may be agreed upon by the Director of Public Prosecutions and the
accused to be sufficient, in which event the judges of the Supreme Court of Appeal
may nevertheless call for the production of the whole record.
(b) If an application under subsection (1) for leave to appeal is granted and the
appeal is under section 315 (3) to be heard by the full court of the High Court from
which the appeal is made, the registrar shall without delay prepare a certified copy of
the record, including copies of the evidence, whether oral or documentary, taken or
admitted at the trial, and a statement of the grounds of appeal: Provided that, instead
of the whole record, with the consent of the accused and the Director of Public
Prosecutions, copies (one of which must be certified) may be prepared of such parts of
the record as may be agreed upon by the Director of Public Prosecutions and the
accused to be sufficient, in which event the judges of the full court of the High Court

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 171 of 221

concerned may nevertheless call for the production of the whole record.
(8) (a) If any application-
(i) referred to in subsection (1) (b) (ii) (hereafter in this section referred to as
an application for condonation);
(ii) referred to in subsection (1) (b) (i) (hereafter in this section referred to as
an application for leave to appeal); or
(iii) referred to in subsection (5) (a) to adduce further evidence (hereafter in
this section referred to as an application for further evidence),
is refused by a High Court, the accused may by petition apply to the President of the
Supreme Court of Appeal to grant any one or more of the applications in question.
(b) Any petition referred to in paragraph (a) must be made-
(i) within 21 days after the application in question was refused; or
(ii) within such extended period as may on an application accompanying that
petition, for good cause shown, be allowed.
(9) (a) If more than one application referred to in subsection (8) (a) relate to the
same matter, they should, as far as is possible, be dealt with in the same petition.
(b) An accused who submits a petition referred to in subsection (8) (a), must at
the same time give written notice thereof to the registrar of the High Court (other than
a circuit court) within whose area of jurisdiction the trial took place, and of which the
judge who presided at the trial was a member when he or she so presided.
(10) When receiving notice of a petition as provided for in subsection (9), the
registrar shall forward to the registrar of the Supreme Court of Appeal copies of the-
(a) application or applications that were refused;
(b) the reasons for refusing the application or applications; and
(c) the record of the proceedings in the High Court in respect of which the
application was refused, if-
(i) the accused was not legally represented at the trial; or
(ii) the accused is not legally represented for the purposes of the
petition; or
(iii) the prospective appeal is not against sentence only; or
(iv) the judges considering the petition, in the interest of justice,
request the record or only a portion of the record.
[Para. (c) substituted by s. 1 (a) of Act 8 of 2013.]
[Sub-s. (10) substituted by s. 16 (a) of Act 66 of 2008.]

(11) (a) A petition referred to in subsection (8), including an application referred to

in subsection (8) (b) (ii), must be considered in chambers by two judges of the
Supreme Court of Appeal designated by the President of the Supreme Court of Appeal.
(b) If the judges differ in opinion, the petition shall also be considered in
chambers by the President of the Supreme Court of Appeal or by any other judge of
the Supreme Court of Appeal to whom it has been referred by the President.
(c) For the purposes of paragraph (b) any decision of the majority of the judges
considering the petition, shall be deemed to be the decision of all three judges.
(12) The judges considering a petition may-
(a) call for any further information from the judge who refused the application
in question, or from the judge who presided at the trial to which the
application relates, as the case may be;
(b) in exceptional circumstances, order that the application or applications in
question or any of them be argued before them at a time and place
determined by them; or
(c) call for a copy of the record or portion of the record of the proceedings if it
was not submitted in terms of subsection (10) (c).
[Para. (c) added by s. 1 (b) of Act 8 of 2013.]

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 172 of 221

[Sub-s. (12) substituted by s. 16 (b) of Act 66 of 2008.]

(13) The judges considering a petition may, whether they have acted under
subsection (12) (a) or (b) or not-
(a) in the case of an application referred to in subsection (8) (b) (ii), grant or
refuse the application; and
(b) in the case of an application for condonation grant or refuse the application,
and if the application is granted-
(i) direct that an application for leave to appeal must be made, within
the period fixed by them, to the High Court referred to in
subsection (8) (a); or
(ii) if they deem it expedient, direct that an application for leave to
appeal must be submitted under subsection (8) within the period
fixed by them as if it had been refused by the High Court referred
to in subsection (8) (a); and
(c) in the case of an application for leave to appeal, subject to paragraph (d),
grant or refuse the application; and
(d) in the case of an application for further evidence, grant or refuse the
application, and, if the application is granted the judges may, before
deciding the application for leave to appeal, remit the matter to the High
Court concerned in order that further evidence may be received in
accordance with subsection (5) (c); or
(e) in exceptional circumstances refer the petition to the Supreme Court of
Appeal for consideration, whether upon argument or otherwise, and the
Supreme Court of Appeal may thereupon deal with the petition in any
manner referred to in this subsection.
(14) All applications contained in a petition must be disposed of-
(a) as far as is possible, simultaneously; and
(b) as a matter of urgency, where the accused was sentenced to any form of
imprisonment that was not wholly suspended.
(15) Notice of the date fixed for the hearing of any application under this section,
and of any time and place determined under subsection (12) for any hearing, must be
given to the Director of Public Prosecutions concerned and the accused.
[S. 316 amended by s. 21 of Act 105 of 1982, by s. 15 of Act 26 of 1987 and by s. 12 of Act
62 of 2000 and substituted by s. 5 of Act 42 of 2003.]

316A ......
[S. 316A inserted by s. 11 of Act 107 of 1990 and repealed by s. 40 of Act 105 of 1997.]

316B Appeal by attorney-general against sentence of superior court

(1) Subject to subsection (2), the attorney-general may appeal to the Appellate
Division against a sentence imposed upon an accused in a criminal case in a superior
court.
(2) The provisions of section 316 in respect of an application or appeal referred to in
that section by an accused, shall apply mutatis mutandis with reference to a case in
which the attorney-general appeals in terms of subsection (1) of this section.
(3) Upon an appeal in terms of subsection (1) or an application referred to in
subsection (2), brought by the attorney-general, the court may order that the State
pay the accused concerned the whole or any part of the costs to which the accused
may have been put in opposing the appeal or application, taxed according to the scale
in civil cases of that court.
[S. 316B inserted by s. 11 of Act 107 of 1990.]

317 Special entry of irregularity or illegality

(1) If an accused is of the view that any of the proceedings in connection with or

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 173 of 221

during his or her trial before a High Court are irregular or not according to law, he
or she may, either during his or her trial or within a period of 14 days after his or her
conviction or within such extended period as may upon application (in this section
referred to as an application for condonation) on good cause be allowed, apply for a
special entry to be made on the record (in this section referred to as an application for
a special entry) stating in what respect the proceedings are alleged to be irregular or
not according to law, and such a special entry shall, upon such application for a special
entry, be made unless the court to which or the judge to whom the application for a
special entry is made is of the opinion that the application is not made bona fide or
that it is frivolous or absurd or that the granting of the application would be an abuse
of the process of the court.
[Sub-s. (1) substituted by s. 6 (a) of Act 42 of 2003.]

(2) Save as hereinafter provided, an application for condonation or for a special

entry shall be made to the judge who presided at the trial or, if he is not available, or,
if in the case of a conviction before a circuit court the said court is not sitting, to any
other judge of the provincial or local division of which that judge was a member when
he so presided.
(3) ......
[Sub-s. (3) deleted by s. 13 of Act 62 of 2000.]

(4) The terms of a special entry shall be settled by the court which or the judge who
grants the application for a special entry.
(5) If an application for condonation or for a special entry is refused, the accused
may, within a period of 21 days of such refusal or within such extended period as may
on good cause shown, be allowed, by petition addressed to the President of the
Supreme Court of Appeal, apply to the Supreme Court of Appeal for condonation or for
a special entry to be made on the record stating in what respect the proceedings are
alleged to be irregular or not according to law, as the case may be, and thereupon the
provisions of subsections (11), (12), (13), (14) and (15) of section 316 shall mutatis
mutandis apply.
[Sub-s. (5) amended by s. 22 of Act 105 of 1982 and substituted by s. 6 (b) of Act 42 of
2003.]

318 Appeal on special entry under section 317

(1) If a special entry is made on the record, the person convicted may appeal to the
Appellate Division against his conviction on the ground of the irregularity or illegality
stated in the special entry if, within a period of twenty-one days after entry is so made
or within such extended period as may on good cause be allowed, notice of appeal has
been given to the registrar of the Appellate Division and to the registrar of the
provincial or local division, other than a circuit court, within whose area of jurisdiction
the trial took place, and of which the judge who presided at the trial was a member
when he so presided.
[Sub-s. (1) amended by s. 23 of Act 105 of 1982.]

(2) The registrar of such provincial or local division shall forthwith after receiving
such notice give notice thereof to the attorney-general and shall transmit to the
registrar of the Appellate Division a certified copy of the record, including copies of the
evidence, whether oral or documentary, taken or admitted at the trial and of the
special entry: Provided that with the consent of the accused and the attorney-general,
the registrar concerned may, instead of transmitting the whole record, transmit copies,
one of which shall be certified, of such parts of the record as may be agreed upon by
the attorney-general and the accused to be sufficient, in which event the Appellate
Division may nevertheless call for the production of the whole record.
[Sub-s. (2) amended by s. 23 of Act 105 of 1982.]

319 Reservation of question of law

(1) If any question of law arises on the trial in a superior court of any person for
any offence, that court may of its own motion or at the request either of the

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 174 of 221

prosecutor or the accused reserve that question for the consideration of the
Appellate Division, and thereupon the first-mentioned court shall state the question
reserved and shall direct that it be specially entered in the record and that a copy
thereof be transmitted to the registrar of the Appellate Division.
[Sub-s. (1) amended by s. 24 of Act 105 of 1982.]

(2) The grounds upon which any objection to an indictment is taken shall, for the
purposes of this section, be deemed to be questions of law.
(3) The provisions of sections 317 (2), (4) and (5) and 318 (2) shall apply mutatis
mutandis with reference to all proceedings under this section.
[Sub-s. (3) substituted by s. 14 of Act 62 of 2000.]

320 Report of trial judge to be furnished on appeal

The judge or judges, as the case may be, of any court before whom a person is
convicted shall, in the case of an appeal under section 316 or 316B or of an application
for a special entry under section 317 or the reservation of a question of law under
section 319 or an application to the court of appeal for leave to appeal or for a special
entry under this Act, furnish to the registrar a report giving his, her or their opinion
upon the case or upon any point arising in the case, and such report, which shall form
part of the record, shall without delay be forwarded by the registrar to the registrar of
the court of appeal.
[S. 320 substituted by s. 12 of Act 107 of 1990 and by s. 41 of Act 105 of 1997.]

321 When execution of sentence may be suspended

(1) The execution of the sentence of a superior court shall not be suspended by
reason of any appeal against a conviction or by reason of any question of law having
been reserved for consideration by the court of appeal, unless-
(a) ......
[Para. (a) deleted by s. 2 of Act 33 of 1997.]
(b) the superior court from which the appeal is made or by which the question
is reserved thinks fit to order that the accused be released on bail or that
he be treated as an unconvicted prisoner until the appeal or the question
reserved has been heard and decided:
Provided that when the accused is ultimately sentenced to imprisonment the time
during which he was so released on bail shall be excluded in computing the term for
which he is so sentenced: Provided further that when the accused has been detained
as an unconvicted prisoner, the time during which he has been so detained shall be
included or excluded in computing the term for which he is ultimately sentenced, as
the court of appeal may determine.
(2) If the court orders that the accused be released on bail, the provisions of
sections 66, 67 and 68 and of subsections (2), (3), (4) and (5) of section 307 shall
mutatis mutandis apply with reference to bail so granted, and any reference in-
(a) section 66 to the court which may act under that section, shall be deemed
to be a reference to the superior court by which the accused was released
on bail;
(b) section 67 to the court which may act under that section, shall be deemed
to be a reference to the magistrate's court within whose area of jurisdiction
the accused is to surrender himself in order that effect be given to any
sentence in respect of the proceedings in question; and
(c) section 68 to a magistrate shall be deemed to be a reference to a judge of
the superior court in question.

322 Powers of court of appeal

(1) In the case of an appeal against a conviction or of any question of law reserved,
the court of appeal may-
(a) allow the appeal if it thinks that the judgment of the trial court should be

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 175 of 221

set aside on the ground of a wrong decision of any question of law or that on any
ground there was a failure of justice; or
(b) give such judgment as ought to have been given at the trial or impose such
punishment as ought to have been imposed at the trial; or
(c) make such other order as justice may require:
Provided that, notwithstanding that the court of appeal is of opinion that any point
raised might be decided in favour of the accused, no conviction or sentence shall be
set aside or altered by reason of any irregularity or defect in the record or proceedings,
unless it appears to the court of appeal that a failure of justice has in fact resulted
from such irregularity or defect.
(2) Upon an appeal under section 316 or 316B against any sentence, the court of
appeal may confirm the sentence or may delete or amend the sentence and impose
such punishment as ought to have been imposed at the trial.
[Sub-s. (2) substituted by s. 13 (a) of Act 107 of 1990.]

(2A) ......
[Sub-s. (2A) inserted by s. 13 (b) of Act 107 of 1990 and deleted by s. 42 (a) of Act 105 of
1997.]

(3) Where a conviction and sentence are set aside by the court of appeal on the
ground that a failure of justice has in fact resulted from the admission against the
accused of evidence otherwise admissible but not properly placed before the trial court
by reason of some defect in the proceedings, the court of appeal may remit the case to
the trial court with instructions to deal with any matter, including the hearing of such
evidence, in such manner as the court of appeal may think fit.
(4) Where a question of law has been reserved on the application of a prosecutor in
the case of an acquittal, and the court of appeal has given a decision in favour of the
prosecutor, the court of appeal may order that such of the steps referred to in section
324 be taken as the court may direct.
(5) The order or direction of the court of appeal shall be transmitted by the registrar
of that court to the registrar of the court before which the case was tried, and such
order or direction shall be carried into effect and shall authorize every person affected
by it to do whatever is necessary to carry it into effect.
(6) The powers conferred by this section upon the court of appeal in relation to the
imposition of punishments, shall include the power to impose a punishment more
severe than that imposed by the court below or to impose another punishment in lieu
of or in addition to such punishment.
[Sub-s. (6) substituted by s. 13 (c) of Act 107 of 1990 and by s. 42 (b) of Act 105 of 1997.]

323 ......
[S. 323 amended by s. 25 of Act 105 of 1982, substituted by s. 14 of Act 107 of 1990 and
repealed by s. 43 of Act 105 of 1997.]

324 Institution of proceedings de novo when conviction set aside on appeal

Whenever a conviction and sentence are set aside by the court of appeal on the
ground-
(a) that the court which convicted the accused was not competent to do so; or
(b) that the indictment on which the accused was convicted was invalid or
defective in any respect; or
(c) that there has been any other technical irregularity or defect in the
procedure,
proceedings in respect of the same offence to which the conviction and sentence
referred may again be instituted either on the original charge, suitably amended where
necessary, or upon any other charge as if the accused had not previously been
arraigned, tried and convicted: Provided that no judge or assessor before whom the
original trial took place shall take part in such proceedings.

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 176 of 221

CHAPTER 32
MERCY AND FREE PARDON (ss 325-327)

325 Saving of power of State President to extend mercy

Nothing in this Act shall affect the power of the State President to extend mercy to
any person.

325A ......
[S. 325A inserted by s. 15 of Act 107 of 1990 and repealed by s. 44 of Act 105 of 1997.]

326 ......
[S. 326 repealed by s. 44 of Act 105 of 1997.]

327 Further evidence and free pardon or substitution of verdict by State

President
(1) If any person convicted of any offence in any court has in respect of the
conviction exhausted all the recognized legal procedures pertaining to appeal or
review, or if such procedures are no longer available to him or her, and such person or
his or her legal representative addresses the Minister by way of petition, supported by
relevant affidavit, stating that further evidence has since become available which
materially affects his or her conviction, the Minister may, if he or she considers that
such further evidence, if true, might reasonably affect the conviction, direct that the
petition and the relevant affidavits be referred to the court in which the conviction
occurred.
[Sub-s. (1) substituted by s. 16 (a) of Act 107 of 1990 and by s. 45 (a) of Act 105 of 1997.]

(2) The court shall receive the said affidavits as evidence and may examine and
permit the examination of any witness in connection therewith, including any witness
on behalf of the State, and to this end the provisions of this Act relating to witnesses
shall apply as if the matter before the court were a criminal trial in that court.
(3) Unless the court directs otherwise, the presence of the convicted person shall
not be essential at the hearing of further evidence.
[Sub-s. (3) substituted by s. 45 (b) of Act 105 of 1997.]

(4) (a) The court shall assess the value of the further evidence and advise the
President whether, and to what extent, such evidence affects the conviction in
question.
(b) The court shall not, as part of the proceedings of the court, announce its
finding as to the further evidence or the effect thereof on the conviction in question.
[Sub-s. (4) substituted by s. 45 (b) of Act 105 of 1997.]

(5) The court shall be constituted as it was when the conviction occurred or, if it
cannot be so constituted, the judge-president or, as the case may be, the senior
regional magistrate or magistrate of the court in question, shall direct how the court
shall be constituted.
(6) (a) The State President may, upon consideration of the finding or advice of the
court under subsection (4)-
(i) direct that the conviction in question be expunged from all official records
by way of endorsement on such records, and the effect of such a direction
and endorsement shall be that the person concerned be given a free pardon
as if the conviction in question had never occurred; or
(ii) substitute for the conviction in question a conviction of lesser gravity and
substitute for the punishment imposed for such conviction any other
punishment provided by law.
(iii) ......
[Sub-para. (iii) deleted by s. 45 (c) of Act 105 of 1997.]
(b) The State President shall direct the Minister to advise the person concerned in
writing of any decision taken under paragraph (a), other than a decision taken under

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subparagraph (iii) of that paragraph, and to publish a notice in the Gazette in

which such decision, other than a decision taken under the said subparagraph (iii), is
set out.
(7) No appeal, review or other proceedings of whatever nature shall lie in respect
of-
(a) a refusal by the Minister to issue a direction under subsection (1) or by the
State President to act upon the finding or advice of the court under
subsection (4) (a); or
[Para. (a) substituted by s. 16 (b) of Act 107 of 1990.]
(b) any aspect of the proceedings, finding or advice of the court under this
section.

CHAPTER 33
GENERAL PROVISIONS (ss 328-345)

328 Force of process

Any warrant, subpoena, summons or other process relating to any criminal matter
shall be of force throughout the Republic and may be executed anywhere within the
Republic.

329 Court process may be served or executed by police official

Any police official shall, subject to the rules of court, be as qualified to serve or
execute any subpoena or summons or other document under this Act as if he had been
appointed deputy sheriff or deputy messenger or other like officer of the court.

330 Transmission of court process by telegraph or similar communication

Any document, order or other court process which under this Act or the rules of
court is required to be served or executed with reference to any person, may be
transmitted by telegraph or similar written or printed communication, and a copy of
such telegraph or communication, served or executed in the same manner as the
relevant document, order or other court process is required to be served or executed,
shall be of the same force and effect as if the document, order or other court process
in question had itself been served or executed.

331 Irregular warrant or process

Any person who acts under a warrant or process which is bad in law on account of a
defect in the substance or form thereof shall, if he has no knowledge that such warrant
or process is bad in law and whether or not such defect is apparent on the face of the
warrant or process, be exempt from liability in respect of such act as if the warrant or
process were good in law.

332 Prosecution of corporations and members of associations

(1) For the purpose of imposing upon a corporate body criminal liability for any
offence, whether under any law or at common law-
(a) any act performed, with or without a particular intent, by or on instructions
or with permission, express or implied, given by a director or servant of
that corporate body; and
(b) the omission, with or without a particular intent, of any act which ought to
have been but was not performed by or on instructions given by a director
or servant of that corporate body,
in the exercise of his powers or in the performance of his duties as such director or
servant or in furthering or endeavouring to further the interests of that corporate body,
shall be deemed to have been performed (and with the same intent, if any) by that
corporate body or, as the case may be, to have been an omission (and with the same
intent, if any) on the part of that corporate body.

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(2) In any prosecution against a corporate body, a director or servant of that

corporate body shall be cited, as representative of that corporate body, as the
offender, and thereupon the person so cited may, as such representative, be dealt with
as if he were the person accused of having committed the offence in question:
Provided that-
(a) if the said person pleads guilty, other than by way of admitting guilt under
section 57, the plea shall not be valid unless the corporate body authorized
him to plead guilty;
(b) if at any stage of the proceedings the said person ceases to be a director or
servant of that corporate body or absconds or is unable to attend, the court
in question may, at the request of the prosecutor, from time to time
substitute for the said person any other person who is a director or servant
of the said corporate body at the time of the said substitution, and
thereupon the proceedings shall continue as if no substitution had taken
place;
(c) if the said person, as representing the corporate body, is convicted, the
court convicting him shall not impose upon him in his representative
capacity any punishment, whether direct or as an alternative, other than a
fine, even if the relevant law makes no provision for the imposition of a fine
in respect of the offence in question, and such fine shall be payable by the
corporate body and may be recovered by attachment and sale of property
of the corporate body in terms of section 288;
(d) the citation of a director or servant of a corporate body as aforesaid, to
represent that corporate body in any prosecution instituted against it, shall
not exempt that director or servant from prosecution for that offence in
terms of subsection (5).
(3) In criminal proceedings against a corporate body, any record which was made or
kept by a director, servant or agent of the corporate body within the scope of his
activities as such director, servant or agent, or any document which was at any time in
the custody or under the control of any such director, servant or agent within the
scope of his activities as such director, servant or agent, shall be admissible in
evidence against the accused.
(4) For the purposes of subsection (3) any record made or kept by a director,
servant or agent of a corporate body or any document which was at any time in his
custody or under his control, shall be presumed to have been made or kept by him or
to have been in his custody or under his control within the scope of his activities as
such director, servant or agent, unless the contrary is proved.
(5) 29 When an offence has been committed, whether by the performance of any act
or by the failure to perform any act, for which any corporate body is or was liable to
prosecution, any person who was, at the time of the commission of the offence, a
director or servant of the corporate body shall be deemed to be guilty of the said
offence, unless it is proved that he did not take part in the commission of the offence
and that he could not have prevented it, and shall be liable to prosecution therefor,
either jointly with the corporate body or apart therefrom, and shall on conviction be
personally liable to punishment therefor.
(6) In criminal proceedings against a director or servant of a corporate body in
respect of an offence-
(a) any evidence which would be or was admissible against that corporate body
in a prosecution for that offence, shall be admissible against the accused;
(b) whether or not such corporate body is or was liable to prosecution for the
said offence, any document, memorandum, book or record which was
drawn up, entered up or kept in the ordinary course of business of that
corporate body or which was at any time in the custody or under the
control of any director, servant or agent of such corporate body, in his
capacity as director, servant or agent, shall be prima facie proof of its
contents and admissible in evidence against the accused, unless he is able

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to prove that at all material times he had no knowledge of the said document,
memorandum, book or record, in so far as its contents are relevant to the
offence charged, and was in no way party to the drawing up of such
document or memorandum or the making of any relevant entries in such
book or record.
(7) When a member of an association of persons, other than a corporate body, has,
in carrying on the business or affairs of that association or in furthering or in
endeavouring to further its interests, committed an offence, whether by the
performance of any act or by the failure to perform any act, any person who was, at
the time of the commission of the offence, a member of that association, shall be
deemed to be guilty of the said offence, unless it is proved that he did not take part in
the commission of the offence and that he could not have prevented it: Provided that if
the business or affairs of the association are governed or controlled by a committee or
other similar governing body, the provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any
person who was not at the time of the commission of the offence a member of that
committee or other body.
(8) In any proceedings against a member of an association of persons in respect of
an offence mentioned in subsection (7) any record which was made or kept by any
member or servant or agent of the association within the scope of his activities as such
member, servant or agent, or any document which was at any time in the custody or
under the control of any such member, servant or agent within the scope of his
activities as such member, servant or agent, shall be admissible in evidence against
the accused.
(9) For the purposes of subsection (8) any record made or kept by a member or
servant or agent of an association, or any document which was at any time in his
custody or under his control, shall be presumed to have been made or kept by him or
to have been in his custody or under his control within the scope of his activities as
such member or servant or agent, unless the contrary is proved.
(10) In this section the word 'director' in relation to a corporate body means any
person who controls or governs that corporate body or who is a member of a body or
group of persons which controls or governs that corporate body or, where there is no
such body or group, who is a member of that corporate body.
(11) The provisions of this section shall be additional to and not in substitution for
any other law which provides for a prosecution against corporate bodies or their
directors or servants or against associations of persons or their members.
(12) Where a summons under this Act is to be served on a corporate body, it shall
be served on the director or servant referred to in subsection (2) and in the manner
referred to in section 54 (2).
29 In S v Coetzee and Others 1997 (1) SACR 379 (CC) & 1997 (3) SA 527 (CC) the
Constitutional Court declared section 332 (5) inconsistent with the Constitution and therefore invalid

333 Minister may invoke decision of Appellate Division on question of law

Whenever the Minister has any doubt as to the correctness of any decision given by
any superior court in any criminal case on a question of law, or whenever a decision in
any criminal case on a question of law is given by any division of the Supreme Court
which is in conflict with a decision in any criminal case on a question of law given by
any other division of the Supreme Court, the Minister may submit such decision or, as
the case may be, such conflicting decisions to the Appellate Division of the Supreme
Court and cause the matter to be argued before that Court in order that it may
determine such question of law for the future guidance of all courts.

334 Minister may declare certain persons peace officers for specific purposes
(1) (a) 30 The Minister may by notice in the Gazette declare that any person who,

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by virtue of his office, falls within any category defined in the notice, shall, within an
area specified in the notice, be a peace officer for the purpose of exercising, with
reference to any provision of this Act or any offence or any class of offences likewise
specified, the powers defined in the notice.
(b) The powers referred to in paragraph (a) may include any power which is not
conferred upon a peace officer by this Act.
(2) (a) 31 No person who is a peace officer by virtue of a notice issued under
subsection (1) shall exercise any power conferred upon him under that subsection
unless he is at the time of exercising such power in possession of a certificate of
appointment issued by his employer, which certificate shall be produced on demand.
(b) A power exercised contrary to the provisions of paragraph (a) shall have no
legal force or effect.
32
(3) The Minister may by notice in the Gazette prescribe-
(a) the conditions which shall be complied with before a certificate of
appointment may validly be issued under subsection (2) (a);
(b) any matter which shall appear in or on such certificate of appointment in
addition to any matter which the employer may include in such certificate.
(4) Where the employer of any person who becomes a peace officer under the
provisions of this section would be liable for damages arising out of any act or omission
by such person in the discharge of any power conferred upon him under this section,
the State shall not be liable for such damages unless the State is the employer of that
person, in which event the department of State, including a provincial administration,
in whose service such person is, shall be so liable.
30 Declaration of peace officers published under GN R209 in GG 23143 of 19 February 2002, as
amended
31 Requirements and certificate of peace officers published under GN R210 in GG 23144 of 19
February 2002. See Regulations to this Act
32 Requirements and certificate of peace officers published under GN R210 in GG 23144 of 19
February 2002. See Regulations to this Act

335 Person who makes statement entitled to copy thereof

Whenever a person has in relation to any matter made to a peace officer a
statement in writing or a statement which was reduced to writing, and criminal
proceedings are thereafter instituted against such person in connection with that
matter, the person in possession of such statement shall furnish the person who made
the statement, at his request, with a copy of such statement.

335A Prohibition of publication of identity of persons towards or in

connection with whom certain offences have been committed
(1) No person shall, with regard to any offence referred to in section 153 (3) (a)
and (b), as from the date on which the offence in question was committed or allegedly
committed, until the prohibition in terms of section 154 (2) (b) of the publication of
information relating to the charge in question commences, publish any information
which might reveal the identity of the person towards or in connection with whom the
offence was committed or allegedly committed, except with the authorization of a
magistrate granted on application in chambers, with due regard to the wishes of the
person towards or in connection with whom the offence was committed.
(2) Any person who contravenes the provisions of subsection (1) shall be guilty of
an offence and liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not
exceeding three years or to both such fine and such imprisonment if the person whose
identity has been revealed is over the age of 18 years, and if such person is under the
age of 18 years, to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or
to both such fine and such imprisonment.

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[Sub-s. (2) substituted by s. 68 of Act 32 of 2007.]

(3) The provisions of section 300 are applicable, with the changes required by the
context, upon the conviction of a person in terms of subsection (2) and if the person
whose identity has been revealed suffered any physical, psychological or other injury
or loss of income or support.
[Sub-s. (3) added by s. 68 of Act 32 of 2007.]
[S. 335A inserted by s. 4 of Act 103 of 1987.]

335B Medical examination of minors towards or in connection with whom

certain offences have been committed
(1) If a police official charged with the investigation of a case is of the opinion that it
is necessary that a minor or a person who is mentally disabled in respect of whom it is
alleged that a sexual offence as contemplated in section 1 of the Criminal Law (Sexual
Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007, or an offence of a violent nature
has been committed be examined by a district surgeon or, if he is not available, by a
registered medical practitioner, but that the parent or guardian or curator or custodian
of such minor or mentally disabled person-
(a) cannot be traced within a reasonable time;
(b) cannot grant consent in time;
(c) is a suspect in respect of the offence in consequence of which the
examination must be conducted;
(d) unreasonably refuses to consent that the examination be conducted;
(e) is incompetent on account of mental disorder to consent that the
examination be conducted; or
(f) is deceased,
a magistrate may, on the written application of that police official and if he is satisfied
that the medical examination is necessary, grant the necessary consent that such
examination be conducted.
[Sub-s. (1) substituted by s. 68 of Act 32 of 2007.]

(2) If a magistrate is not available to grant consent as referred to in subsection (1),

a commissioned officer as defined in section 1 of the Police Act, 1958 (Act 7 of 1958),
or the police official in charge of the local police station may in writing grant such
consent if the police official charged with the investigation of the case declares under
oath that the consent of a magistrate cannot be obtained within a reasonable period of
time and the district surgeon or registered medical practitioner declares under oath
that the purpose of the medical examination will be defeated if the examination is not
conducted forthwith.
[S. 335B inserted by s. 7 of Act 4 of 1992.]

336 Act or omission constituting offence under two or more laws

Where an act or omission constitutes an offence under two or more statutory
provisions or is an offence against a statutory provision and the common law, the
person guilty of such act or omission shall, unless the contrary intention appears, be
liable to be prosecuted and punished under either statutory provision or, as the case
may be, under the statutory provision or the common law, but shall not be liable to
more than one punishment for the act or omission constituting the offence.

337 Estimating age of person

If in any criminal proceedings the age of any person is a relevant fact of which no or
insufficient evidence is available at the proceedings, the presiding judge or judicial
officer may, in addition to the provisions of sections 14 to 16 of the Child Justice Act,
2008, estimate the age of such person by his or her appearance or from any
information which may be available, and the age so estimated shall be deemed to be
the correct age of such person, unless-
(a) it is subsequently proved that the said estimate was incorrect; and

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(b) the accused at such proceedings could not lawfully have been convicted of
the offence with which he or she was charged if the correct age had been
proved.
[S. 337 substituted by s. 99 (1) of Act 75 of 2008.]

338 Production of document by accused in criminal proceedings

Where any law requires any person to produce any document at any criminal
proceedings at which such person is an accused, and such person fails to produce such
document at such proceedings, such person shall be guilty of an offence, and the court
may in a summary manner enquire into his failure to produce the document and,
unless such person satisfies the court that his failure was not due to any fault on his
part, sentence him to any punishment provided for in such law, or, if no punishment is
so provided, to a fine not exceeding R300 or to imprisonment for a period not
exceeding three months.
[S. 338 substituted by s. 24 of Act 33 of 1986.]

339 Removal of accused from one prison to another for purpose of attending
at criminal proceedings
Whenever an accused is in custody and it becomes necessary that he be removed
from one prison to another prison for the purpose of attending his trial, the magistrate
of the district in which the accused is in custody shall issue a warrant for the removal
of the accused to such other prison.

340 Prison list of unsentenced prisoners and witnesses detained

Every head of a prison within the area for which any session or circuit of any
superior court is held for the trial of criminal cases shall deliver to that court at the
commencement of each such session or circuit a list-
(a) of the unsentenced prisoners who, at such commencement, have been
detained within his prison for a period of ninety days or longer; and
(b) of witnesses detained under section 184 or 185 and who, at such
commencement, are being detained within his prison,
and such list shall, in the case of each such prisoner and each such witness, specify the
date of his admission to the prison and the authority for his detention which shall, in
the case of a witness, state whether the detention is under section 184 or 185, and
shall further specify, in the case of each such prisoner, the cause of his detention.

341 Compounding of certain minor offences

(1) If a person receives from any peace officer a notification in writing alleging that
such person has committed, at a place and upon a date and at a time or during a
period specified in the notification, any offence likewise specified, of any class
mentioned in Schedule 3, and setting forth the amount of the fine which a court trying
such person for such offence would probably impose upon him, such person may
within thirty days after the receipt of the notification deliver or transmit the
notification, together with a sum of money equal to the said amount, to the magistrate
of the district or area wherein the offence is alleged to have been committed, and
thereupon such person shall not be prosecuted for having committed such offence.
(2) (a) Where a notification referred to in subsection (1) is issued by a peace officer
in the service of a local authority in respect of an offence committed within the area of
jurisdiction of such local authority, any person receiving the notification may deliver or
transmit it together with a sum of money equal to the amount specified therein to such
local authority.
[Para. (a) substituted by s. 9 of Act 64 of 1982.]
(b) Any sum of money paid to a local authority as provided in paragraph (a) shall
be deemed to be a fine imposed in respect of the offence in question.
[Para. (b) substituted by s. 9 of Act 64 of 1982.]
(c) Not later than seven days after receipt of any sum of money as provided in

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paragraph (a), the local authority concerned shall forward to the magistrate of
the district or area wherein the offence is alleged to have been committed a copy of
the notification relating to the payment in question.
(d) If the magistrate finds that the amount specified in the notification exceeds
the amount determined in terms of subsection (5) in respect of the offence in question,
he shall notify the local authority of the amount whereby the amount specified in the
notification exceeds the amount so determined and the local authority concerned shall
immediately refund the amount of such excess to the person concerned.
(e) For the purpose of this subsection 'local authority' means any institution or
body contemplated in section 84 (1) (f) of the Provincial Government Act, 1961 (Act 32
of 1961), and includes-
(i) a regional services council established under section 3 of the Regional
Services Councils Act, 1985 (Act 109 of 1985);
(ii) any institution or body established under the Rural Areas Act, (House of
Representatives), 1987 (Act 9 of 1987);
[Sub-para. (ii) amended by s. 4 of Act 18 of 1996.]
(iii)a local authority as defined in section 1 of the Black Local Authorities Act,
1982 (Act 102 of 1982);
(iv) a local government body contemplated in section 30 (2) (a) of the Black
Administration Act, 1927 (Act 38 of 1927); and
(v) any committee referred to in section 17 (1) of the Promotion of Local
Government Affairs Act, 1983 (Act 91 of 1983).
[Para. (e) substituted by s. 25 of Act 33 of 1986 and by s. 16 of Act 26 of 1987.]

(3) Any money paid to a magistrate in terms of subsection (1) shall be dealt with as
if it had been paid as a fine for the offence in question.
(4) The Minister may from time to time by notice in the Gazette add any offence to
the offences mentioned in Schedule 3, or remove therefrom any offence mentioned
therein.
(5) The amount to be specified in any notification issued under this section as the
amount of the fine which a court would probably impose in respect of any offence,
shall be determined from time to time for any particular area by the magistrate of the
district or area in which such area is situated, and may differ from the admission of
guilt fine determined under section 57 (5) (a) for the offence in question.
[NB: Sub-s. (5) has been substituted by s. 17 of the Judicial Matters Amendment Act 66 of
2008, a provision which will be put into operation by proclamation. See PENDLEX.]

342 Conviction or acquittal no bar to civil action for damages

A conviction or an acquittal in respect of any offence shall not bar a civil action for
damages at the instance of any person who has suffered damages in consequence of
the commission of that offence.

342A Unreasonable delays in trials

(1) A court before which criminal proceedings are pending shall investigate any
delay in the completion of proceedings which appears to the court to be unreasonable
and which could cause substantial prejudice to the prosecution, the accused or his or
her legal adviser, the State or a witness.
(2) In considering the question whether any delay is unreasonable, the court shall
consider the following factors:
(a) The duration of the delay;
(b) the reasons advanced for the delay;
(c) whether any person can be blamed for the delay;
(d) the effect of the delay on the personal circumstances of the accused and
witnesses;
(e) the seriousness, extent or complexity of the charge or charges;

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(f) actual or potential prejudice caused to the State or the defence by the
delay, including a weakening of the quality of evidence, the possible death
or disappearance or non-availability of witnesses, the loss of evidence,
problems regarding the gathering of evidence and considerations of cost;
(g) the effect of the delay on the administration of justice;
(h) the adverse effect on the interests of the public or the victims in the event
of the prosecution being stopped or discontinued;
(i) any other factor which in the opinion of the court ought to be taken into
account.
(3) If the court finds that the completion of the proceedings is being delayed
unreasonably, the court may issue any such order as it deems fit in order to eliminate
the delay and any prejudice arising from it or to prevent further delay or prejudice,
including an order-
(a) refusing further postponement of the proceedings;
(b) granting a postponement subject to any such conditions as the court may
determine;
(c) where the accused has not yet pleaded to the charge, that the case be
struck off the roll and the prosecution not be resumed or instituted de novo
without the written instruction of the attorney-general;
(d) where the accused has pleaded to the charge and the State or the defence,
as the case may be, is unable to proceed with the case or refuses to do so,
that the proceedings be continued and disposed of as if the case for the
prosecution or the defence, as the case may be, has been closed;
(e) that-
(i) the State shall pay the accused concerned the wasted costs
incurred by the accused as a result of an unreasonable delay
caused by an officer employed by the State;
(ii) the accused or his or her legal adviser, as the case may be, shall
pay the State the wasted costs incurred by the State as a result of
an unreasonable delay caused by the accused or his or her legal
adviser, as the case may be; or
[Date of commencement of para. (e): to be proclaimed.]
(f) that the matter be referred to the appropriate authority for an
administrative investigation and possible disciplinary action against any
person responsible for the delay.
(4) (a) An order contemplated in subsection (3) (a), where the accused has pleaded
to the charge, and an order contemplated in subsection (3) (d), shall not be issued
unless exceptional circumstances exist and all other attempts to speed up the process
have failed and the defence or the State, as the case may be, has given notice
beforehand that it intends to apply for such an order.
(b) The attorney-general and the accused may appeal against an order
contemplated in subsection (3) (d) and the provisions of sections 310A and 316 in
respect of an application or appeal referred to in that section by an accused, shall
apply mutatis mutandis with reference to a case in which the attorney-general appeals
and, in the case of an appeal by the accused, the provisions of section 309 and 316
shall apply mutatis mutandis.
(5) Where the court has made an order contemplated in subsection (3) (e)-
(a) the costs shall be taxed according to the scale the court deems fit; and
(b) the order shall have the effect of a civil judgment of that court.
[Date of commencement of sub-s. (5): to be proclaimed.]

(6) If, on notice of motion, it appears to a superior court that the institution or
continuance of criminal proceedings is being delayed unreasonably in a lower court
which is seized with a case but does not have jurisdiction to try the case, that superior
court may, with regard to such proceedings, institute the investigation contemplated in

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 185 of 221

subsections (1) and (2) and issue any order contemplated in subsection (3) to the
extent that it is applicable.
(7) (a) The National Director of Public Prosecutions must, within 14 days after the
end of January and of July of each year, submit a report to the Cabinet member
responsible for the administration of justice, containing the particulars indicated in the
Table of Awaiting Trial Accused in respect of each accused whose trial has not yet
commenced in respect of the leading of evidence, as contemplated in section 150 and
who, by the end of the month in question, has been in custody for a continuous period
exceeding-
(i) 18 months from date of arrest, where the trial is to be conducted in a High
Court;
(ii) 12 months from date of arrest, where the trial is to be conducted in a
regional court; and
(iii) six months from date of arrest, where the trial is to be conducted in a
magistrate's court.
(b) The Cabinet member responsible for the administration of justice must, within
14 days of receipt of a report contemplated in paragraph (a), table such report in
Parliament.

Table of Awaiting Trial Accused

Whether bail
Reasons has been
Court and Name and Number of Date of next
Particulars of Period in why trial granted and
case age of court court
charge(s) detention has not if so, the
number accused appearances appearance
commenced conditions of
bail

[Sub-s. (7) added by s. 7 of Act 55 of 2003.]

[S. 342A inserted by s. 13 of Act 86 of 1996.]

343 ......
[S. 343 repealed by s. 1 of Act 49 of 1996.]

344 Repeal of laws

(1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (2), the laws specified in Schedule 4 are
hereby repealed to the extent set out in the third column of that Schedule.
(2) Any regulation, rule, notice, approval, authority, return, certificate, document,
direction or appointment made, issued, given or granted, and any other act done
under any provision of any law repealed by this Act shall, subject to the provisions of
subsection (3), be deemed to have been made, issued, given, granted or done under
the corresponding provisions of this Act.
(3) Notwithstanding the repeal of any law under subsection (1), criminal
proceedings which have under such law at the date of commencement of this Act been
commenced in any superior court, regional court or magistrate's court and in which
evidence has at such date been led in respect of the relevant charge, shall, if such
proceedings have at that date not been concluded, be continued and concluded under
such law as if it had not been repealed.

345 Short title and date of commencement

(1) This Act shall be called the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977, and shall come into
operation on a date to be fixed by the State President by proclamation in the Gazette.
(2) The State President may under subsection (1) fix different dates in respect of

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 186 of 221

different provisions of this Act.

[S. 345 amended by s. 1 of Act 49 of 1996.]

Schedule 1

(Sections 40 and 42)

[Schedule 1 substituted by s. 17 of Act 26 of 1987, amended by s. 8 of Act 122 of 1998,
substituted by s. 68 of Act 32 of 2007 and amended by s. 11 of Act 13 of 2013.]
[NB: Schedule 1 has been amended by s. 48 of the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in
Persons Act 7 of 2013, a provision which will be put into operation by proclamation. See
PENDLEX.]

Treason.
Sedition.
Public violence.
Murder.
Culpable homicide.
Rape or compelled rape as contemplated in sections 3 and 4 of the Criminal Law
(Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007, respectively.
Sexual assault, compelled sexual assault or compelled self-sexual assault as
contemplated in section 5, 6 or 7 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related
Matters) Amendment Act, 2007, respectively.
Any sexual offence against a child or a person who is mentally disabled as
contemplated in Part 2 of Chapter 3 or the whole of Chapter 4 of the Criminal Law
(Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007, respectively.
Trafficking in persons for sexual purposes by a person contemplated in section 71 (1)
or (2) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act,
2007.
[NB: 'Trafficking' item has been substituted by s. 48 of the Prevention and Combating of
Trafficking in Persons Act 7 of 2013, a provision which will be put into operation by
proclamation. See PENDLEX.]

Bestiality as contemplated in section 13 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and

Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007.
Robbery.
Kidnapping.
Childstealing.
Assault, when a dangerous wound is inflicted.
Arson.
Malicious injury to property.
Breaking or entering any premises, whether under the common law or a statutory
provision, with intent to commit an offence.
Theft, whether under the common law or a statutory provision.
Receiving stolen property knowing it to have been stolen.
Fraud.
Forgery or uttering a forged document knowing it to have been forged.
Offences relating to the coinage.
Any offence, except the offence of escaping from lawful custody in circumstances other
than the circumstances referred to immediately hereunder, the punishment wherefor
may be a period of imprisonment exceeding six months without the option of a fine.
Escaping from lawful custody, where the person concerned is in such custody in

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 187 of 221

respect of any offence referred to in this Schedule or is in such custody in respect of

the offence of escaping from lawful custody.
Offences referred to in section 4 (1) and (2) of the Prevention and Combating of
Torture of Persons Act, 2013.
Any conspiracy, incitement or attempt to commit any offence referred to in this
Schedule.

Schedule 2
[Schedule 2 amended by s. 5 of Act 126 of 1992, by s. 15 of Act 62 of 2000, by s. 68 of Act 32
of 2007 and by s. 11 of Act 13 of 2013.]
[NB: Schedule 2 has been amended by s. 48 of the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in
Persons Act 7 of 2013, a provision which will be put into operation by proclamation. See
PENDLEX.]

PART I

(Section 35)
Any offence under any law relating to the illicit possession, conveyance or supply of
dependence-producing drugs or intoxicating liquor.
Any offence under any law relating to the illicit dealing in or possession of precious
metals or precious stones.
Breaking or entering any premises, whether under the common law or a statutory
provision, with intent to commit an offence.
Theft, whether under the common law or a statutory provision.

PART II

(Sections 59, 72)

[Part II amended by s. 15 of Act 62 of 2000, substituted by s. 68 of Act 32 of 2007 and
amended by s. 11 of Act 13 of 2013.]

Treason.
Sedition.
Murder.
Rape or compelled rape as contemplated in sections 3 or 4 of the Criminal Law (Sexual
Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007, respectively.
Any sexual offence against a child or a person who is mentally disabled as
contemplated in Part 2 of Chapter 3 or the whole of Chapter 4 of the Criminal Law
(Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007, respectively.
Trafficking in persons for sexual purposes by a person contemplated in section 71 (1)
or (2) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act,
2007.
[NB: 'Trafficking' item has been substituted by s. 48 of the Prevention and Combating of
Trafficking in Persons Act 7 of 2013, a provision which will be put into operation by
proclamation. See PENDLEX.]

Robbery.
Assault, when a dangerous wound is inflicted.
Arson.
Breaking or entering any premises, whether under the common law or a statutory
provision, with intent to commit an offence.
Theft, whether under the common law or a statutory provision, receiving stolen
property knowing it to have been stolen, fraud, forgery or uttering a forged document
knowing it to have been forged, in each case if the amount or value involved in the
offence exceeds R2 500.

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 188 of 221

Any offence under any law relating to the illicit dealing in or possession of precious
metals or precious stones.
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.
Any offence relating to the coinage.
Offences referred to in section 4 (1) and (2) of the Prevention and Combating of
Torture of Persons Act, 2013.
Any conspiracy, incitement or attempt to commit any offence referred to in this Part.

PART III

(Sections 59, 61, 72, 184, 185, 189)

[Part III substituted by s. 5 of Act 126 of 1992 and amended by s. 11 of Act 13 of 2013.]

Sedition.
Public violence.
Arson.
Murder.
Kidnapping.
Childstealing.
[NB: A 'Trafficking' item has been inserted by s. 48 of the Prevention and Combating of
Trafficking in Persons Act 7 of 2013, a provision which will be put into operation by
proclamation. See PENDLEX.]

Robbery.
Housebreaking, whether under the common law or a statutory provision, with intent to
commit an offence.
Contravention of the provisions of section 1 and 1A of the Intimidation Act, 1982 (Act
72 of 1982).
Offences referred to in section 4 (1) and (2) of the Prevention and Combating of
Torture of Persons Act, 2013.
Any conspiracy, incitement or attempt to commit any of the above-mentioned
offences.
Treason.

Schedule 3
(Section 341)
[Schedule 3 amended by s. 18 of Act 56 of 1979.]

Any contravention of a bye-law or regulation made by or for any council, board or

committee established in terms of any law for the management of the affairs of any
division, city, town, borough, village or other similar community.
Any offence committed by-
(a) driving a vehicle at a speed exceeding a prescribed limit;
(b) driving a vehicle which does not bear prescribed lights, or any prescribed
means of identification;
(c) leaving or stopping a vehicle at a place where it may not be left or stopped,
or leaving a vehicle in a condition in which it may not be left;
(d) driving a vehicle at a place where and at a time when it may not be driven;

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 189 of 221

(e) driving a vehicle which is defective or any part whereof is not properly
adjusted, or causing any undue noise by means of a motor vehicle;
(f) owning or driving a vehicle for which no valid licence is held;
(g) driving a motor vehicle without holding a licence to drive it.

Schedule 4
LAWS REPEALED

No and Year of Law Title Extent of Repeal

REPUBLIC

Act 38 of 1916 Mental Disorders Act, 1916 Sections 27, 28, 29 and 29bis.

Section 2 (1), so much of section

Act 24 of 1922 South-West Africa Affairs Act, 1922 3 as is unrepealed, and sections 4,
6 and 7.

South-West Africa Mental Disorder Act,

Act 22 of 1926 So much as is unrepealed.
1926

Section 78 and so much of section

Act 46 of 1935 General Law Amendment Act, 1935
101 as is unrepealed.

Sections 93, 93bis and 94 to 105

Act 32 of 1944 Magistrates' Courts Act, 1944
inclusive.

Section 9 and so much of section

Act 32 of 1952 General Law Amendment Act, 1952
26 as is unrepealed.

Act 40 of 1952 Magistrates' Courts Amendment Act, 1952 Sections 22 to 26 inclusive.

The whole, except sections 319

Act 56 of 1955 Criminal Procedure Act, 1955
(3) and 384.

Act 62 of 1955 General Law Amendment Act, 1955 Sections 13, 24, 25 and 26.

Sections 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28,

Act 50 of 1956 General Law Amendment Act, 1956
29 and 31.

Act 33 of 1957 Interpretation Act, 1957 Section 9.

Section 5 in so far as it relates to

Act 68 of 1957 General Law Amendment Act, 1957 criminal proceedings, and sections
40 and 45 to 59 inclusive.

Act 9 of 1958 Criminal Procedure Amendment Act, 1958 The whole.

Special Criminal Courts Amendment Act,

Act 18 of 1958 The whole.
1958

Sections 3 to 8 inclusive, 10, 11

Act 16 of 1959 Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1959
and 15 to 49 inclusive.

Criminal Law Further Amendment Act,

Act 75 of 1959 Sections 3 to 6 inclusive.
1959

Act 33 of 1960 Children's Act, 1960 Sections 98 to 102 inclusive.

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 190 of 221

Act 39 of 1961 General Law Amendment Act, 1961 Section 4.

Act 45 of 1961 Interpretation Amendment Act, 1961 Section 3.

Act 14 of 1962 Evidence Act, 1962 So much as is unrepealed.

Act 76 of 1962 General Law Amendment Act, 1962 Sections 17 and 18.

General Law Further Amendment Act,

Act 93 of 1962 Sections 28 and 29.
1962

Act 19 of 1963 Magistrates' Courts Amendment Act, 1963 Sections 16 to 20 inclusive.

Sections 1, 2 and 8 to 12
Act 37 of 1963 General Law Amendment Act, 1963
inclusive.

Act 92 of 1963 Criminal Procedure Amendment Act, 1963 So much as is unrepealed.

General Law Further Amendment Act,

Act 93 of 1963 Sections 10 to 15 inclusive.
1963

Sections 12 and 22 to 30
Act 80 of 1964 General Law Amendment Act, 1964
inclusive.

Prevention of Counterfeiting of Currency

Act 16 of 1965 Section 10.
Act, 1965

The amendment of section 261 of

Act 25 of 1965 Civil Proceedings Evidence Act, 1965 the Criminal Procedure Act, 1955,
contained in the Schedule.

Act 96 of 1965 Criminal Procedure Amendment Act, 1965 So much as is unrepealed.

Act 62 of 1966 General Law Amendment Act, 1966 Sections 7, 8 and 9.

Act 102 of 1967 General Law Amendment Act, 1967 Sections 7 to 12 inclusive.

Act 9 of 1968 Criminal Procedure Amendment Act, 1968 The whole.

Sections 31 and 37 to 41
Act 70 of 1968 General Law Amendment Act, 1968
inclusive.

Establishment of the Northern Cape

Act 15 of 1969 Division of the Supreme Court of South Sections 17 and 18.
Africa Act, 1969

Act 17 of 1969 Magistrates' Courts Amendment Act, 1969 Section 4.

Act 34 of 1969 Abolition of Juries Act, 1969 Sections 1 to 32 inclusive.

Act 101 of 1969 General Law Amendment Act, 1969 Sections 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

Act 53 of 1970 Magistrates' Courts Amendment Act, 1970 Section 18.

Act 92 of 1970 Sections 4 and 14.

General Law Further Amendment Act,
1970

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 191 of 221

Abuse of Dependence-producing
Act 41 of 1971 Substances and Rehabilitation Centres Act, Section 62.
1971

Act 102 of 1972 General Law Amendment Act, 1972 Section 9.

Act 32 of 1974 Criminal Procedure Amendment Act, 1974 The whole.

Act 33 of 1975 Criminal Procedure Amendment Act, 1975 The whole.

Act 79 of 1976 Internal Security Amendment Act, 1976 Section 11.

SOUTH WEST AFRICA

In so far as it relates to the

The Fugitive Offenders and Neighbouring attendance by witnesses of
Proclamation 26 of 1920
Territories Evidence Proclamation, 1920 criminal proceedings in courts in
the Republic.

Criminal Procedure and Evidence In so far as it applies to the

Proclamation 30 of 1935
Proclamation, 1935 Eastern Caprivi Zipfel.

Procedure and Evidence Proclamation Section 3 in so far as it relates to

Proclamation 8 of 1938
1938 criminal proceedings.

The whole, except sections 300

Ordinance 34 of 1963 Criminal Procedure Ordinance, 1963
(3) and 370.

Criminal Procedure Amendment

Ordinance 35 of 1965 The whole.
Ordinance, 1965

Criminal Procedure Amendment

Ordinance 19 of 1966 The whole.
Ordinance, 1966

Criminal Procedure Amendment

Ordinance 19 of 1967 The whole.
Ordinance, 1967

Ordinance 4 of 1968 General Law Amendment Ordinance, 1968 Sections 5 to 13 inclusive.

Criminal Procedure Amendment

Ordinance 3 of 1969 The whole.
Ordinance, 1969

Criminal Procedure Amendment

Ordinance 14 of 1975 The whole.
Ordinance, 1975

Schedule 5
(Sections 58 and 60 (11) and (11A) and Schedule 6)
[Schedule 5 added by s. 14 of Act 75 of 1995, substituted by s. 9 of Act 85 of 1997, amended
by s. 36 (1) of Act 12 of 2004 and by s. 27 (1) of Act 33 of 2004 and substituted by s. 68 of
Act 32 of 2007.]
[NB: Schedule 5 has been amended by s. 48 of the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in
Persons Act 7 of 2013, a provision which will be put into operation by proclamation. See
PENDLEX.]

Treason.
Murder.
Attempted murder involving the infliction of grievous bodily harm.

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 192 of 221

Rape or compelled rape as contemplated in section 3 or 4 of the Criminal Law (Sexual

Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007, respectively, in circumstances
other than those referred to in Schedule 6.
Any trafficking related offence by a commercial carrier as contemplated in section 71
(6) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007.
[NB: 'Trafficking' item has been substituted by s. 48 of the Prevention and Combating of
Trafficking in Persons Act 7 of 2013, a provision which will be put into operation by
proclamation. See PENDLEX.]

Any offence referred to in section 13 (f) of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act, 1992
(Act 140 of 1992), if it is alleged that-
(a) the value of the dependence-producing substance in question is more than
R50 000,00; or
(b) the value of the dependence-producing substance in question is more than
R10 000,00 and that the offence was committed by a person, group of
persons, syndicate or any enterprise acting in the execution or furtherance
of a common purpose or conspiracy; or
(c) the offence was committed by any law enforcement officer.
Any offence relating to the dealing in or smuggling of ammunition, firearms, explosives
or armament, or the possession of an automatic or semi-automatic firearm, explosives
or armament.
Any offence in contravention of section 36 of the Arms and Ammunition Act, 1969 (Act
75 of 1969), on account of being in possession of more than 1 000 rounds of
ammunition intended for firing in an arm contemplated in section 39 (2) (a) (i) of that
Act.
Any offence relating to exchange control, extortion, fraud, forgery, uttering, theft, or
any offence referred to in Part 1 to 4, or section 17, 20 or 21 (in so far as it relates to
the aforementioned offences) of Chapter 2 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt
Activities Act, 2004-
(a) involving amounts of more than R500 000,00; or
(b) involving amounts of more than R100 000,00, if it is alleged that the
offence was committed by a person, group of persons, syndicate or any
enterprise acting in the execution or furtherance of a common purpose or
conspiracy; or
(c) if it is alleged that the offence was committed by any law enforcement
officer-
(i) involving amounts of more than R10 000,00; or
(ii) as a member of a group of persons, syndicate or any enterprise
acting in the execution or furtherance of a common purpose or
conspiracy.
Sexual assault, compelled sexual assault or compelled self-sexual assault as
contemplated in section 5, 6 or 7 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related
Matters) Amendment Act, 2007, respectively on a child under the age of 16 years.
An offence referred to in Schedule 1-
(a) and the accused has previously been convicted of an offence referred to in
Schedule 1; or
(b) which was allegedly committed whilst he or she was released on bail in
respect of an offence referred to in Schedule 1.
The offences referred to in section 4 (2) or (3), 13 or 14 (in so far as it relates to the
aforementioned sections) of the Protection of Constitutional Democracy against
Terrorist and Related Activities Act, 2004.

Schedule 6
(Sections 50 (6), 58 and 60 (11) and (11A))

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 193 of 221

[Schedule 6 added by s. 10 of Act 85 of 1997, amended by s. 27 (1) of Act 33 of 2004 and

substituted by s. 68 of Act 32 of 2007.]
[NB: Schedule 6 has been amended by s. 48 of the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in
Persons Act 7 of 2013, a provision which will be put into operation by proclamation. See
PENDLEX.]

Murder, when-
(a) it was planned or premeditated;
(b) the victim was-
(i) a law enforcement officer performing his or her functions as such,
whether on duty or not, or a law enforcement officer who was killed
by virtue of his or her holding such a position; or
(ii) a person who has given or was likely to give material evidence with
reference to any offence referred to in Schedule 1;
(c) the death of the victim was caused by the accused in committing or
attempting to commit or after having committed or having attempted to
commit one of the following offences:
(i) Rape or compelled rape as contemplated in section 3 or 4 of the
Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment
Act, 2007, respectively; or
(ii) robbery with aggravating circumstances; or
(d) the offence was committed by a person, group of persons or syndicate
acting in the execution or furtherance of a common purpose or conspiracy.
Rape or compelled rape as contemplated in section 3 or 4 of the Criminal Law (Sexual
Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007, respectively-
(a) when committed-
(i)in circumstances where the victim was raped more than once,
whether by the accused or by any co-perpetrator or accomplice;
(ii) by more than one person, where such persons acted in the
execution or furtherance of a common purpose or conspiracy;
(iii) by a person who is charged with having committed two or more
offences of rape; or
(iv) by a person, knowing that he has the acquired immune deficiency
syndrome or the human immunodeficiency virus;
(b) where the victim-
(i) is a person under the age of 16 years;
(ii) is a physically disabled person who, due to his or her physical
disability, is rendered particularly vulnerable; or
(iii) is a person who is mentally disabled as contemplated in section 1 of
the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters)
Amendment Act, 2007; or
(c) involving the infliction of grievous bodily harm.
Trafficking in persons for sexual purposes by a person as contemplated in section 71
(1) or (2) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act,
2007.
[NB: 'Trafficking' item has been substituted by s. 48 of the Prevention and Combating of
Trafficking in Persons Act 7 of 2013, a provision which will be put into operation by
proclamation. See PENDLEX.]

Robbery, involving-
(a) the use by the accused or any co-perpetrators or participants of a firearm;
(b) the infliction of grievous bodily harm by the accused or any of the co-
perpetrators or participants; or
(c) the taking of a motor vehicle.
An offence referred to in Schedule 5-

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 194 of 221

(a) and the accused has previously been convicted of an offence referred to in
Schedule 5 or this Schedule; or
(b) which was allegedly committed whilst he or she was released on bail in
respect of an offence referred to in Schedule 5 or this Schedule.
The offences referred to in section 2, 3 (2) (a), 4 (1), 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or 14 (in so far
as it relates to the aforementioned sections) of the Protection of Constitutional
Democracy against Terrorist and Related Activities Act, 2004, section 2 (1) and (2) of
the Civil Aviation Offences Act, 1972 (Act 10 of 1972), section 26 (1) (j) of the Non-
Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction Act, 1993 (Act 87 of 1993) and section
56 (1) (h) of the Nuclear Energy Act, 1999 (Act 46 of 1999).

Schedule 7
(Section 59A)
[Schedule 7 added by s. 10 of Act 85 of 1997, amended by s. 10 of Act 34 of 1998 and by s.
16 of Act 62 of 2000 and substituted by s. 68 of Act 32 of 2007.]

Public violence.
Culpable homicide.
Bestiality as contemplated in section 13 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and
Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007.
Assault, involving the infliction of grievous bodily harm.
Arson.
Housebreaking, whether under the common law or a statutory provision, with intent to
commit an offence.
Malicious injury to property.
Robbery, other than a robbery with aggravating circumstances, if the amount involved
in the offence does not exceed R20 000,00.
Theft and any offence referred to in section 264 (1) (a), (b) and (c), if the amount
involved in the offence does not exceed R20 000,00.
Any offence in terms of any law relating to the illicit possession of dependence-
producing drugs.
Any offence relating to extortion, fraud, forgery or uttering if the amount of value
involved in the offence does not exceed R20 000,00.
Any conspiracy, incitement or attempt to commit any offence referred to in this
Schedule.

Schedule 8
(Sections 36D and 36E)
[Schedule 8 added by s. 5 of Act 37 of 2013.]

Treason.
Sedition.
Public violence.
Murder.
Any offence referred to in Part I or Part II of Schedule 1 to the Implementation of the
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court Act, 2002 (Act 27 of 2002).
Culpable homicide.
Rape or compelled rape as contemplated in sections 3 and 4 of the Criminal Law
(Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007, respectively.
Sexual assault, compelled sexual assault or compelled self-sexual assault as

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 195 of 221

contemplated in section 5, 6 or 7 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related

Matters) Amendment Act, 2007 (Act 32 of 2007), respectively.
Any sexual offence against a child or a person who is mentally disabled as
contemplated in Part 2 of Chapter 3 or the whole of Chapter 4 of the Criminal Law
(Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007 (Act 32 of 2007),
respectively.
Robbery.
Kidnapping.
Childstealing.
Assault, when a dangerous wound is inflicted.
Arson.
Breaking or entering any premises, whether under the common law or a statutory
provision, with intent to commit an offence.
Theft, whether under the common law or a statutory provision.
Escaping from lawful custody, where the person concerned is in such custody in
respect of any offence referred to in Schedule 1, or is in such custody in respect of the
offence of escaping from lawful custody.
Any-
(a) offence under the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act 60 of 2000), which is
punishable with imprisonment for a period of five years or longer in terms
of the said Act;
(b) offence under the Explosives Act, 2003 (Act 15 of 2003), which is
punishable with imprisonment for a period of five years or longer in terms
of the said Act;
(c) Convention offence or specified offence as defined in section 1 of the
Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorist and Related
Activities Act, 2004 (Act 33 of 2004);
(d) offence of trafficking in persons as defined in section 1 of the Prevention
and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2013 (Act 7 of 2013); or
(e) offence of torture as defined in the Prevention and Combating of Torture of
Persons Act, 2013 (Act 13 of 2013).
Any conspiracy, incitement or attempt to commit any offence referred to in this
Schedule.

PENDLEX: Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 after amendment by the Correctional

Services and Supervision Matters Amendment Act 122 of 1991
Section 6 (1) (c)
at any time before judgment, whether or not an accused has already
pleaded to a charge, reconsider the case and upon receipt of a written
admission made by the accused in respect of the charge brought against
him or a lesser charge, suspend the court proceedings and place such
person, with his concurrence, under correctional supervision on such
conditions and for such period as may be agreed upon: Provided that-
(i) where a probation officer or a correctional official is readily
available in the court's area of jurisdiction, the powers under this
paragraph may only be exercised after a report of such a probation
officer or correctional official has been submitted for consideration
to the prosecutor concerned;
(ii) the powers under this paragraph may only be exercised after
consultation with the Commissioner and the police official charged

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 196 of 221

with the investigation of the case and with due regard to the circumstances
of the offence, the accused and the interests of the community;
(iii) where a prosecution has been instituted under section 8, the
suspension of the court proceedings shall be authorized beforehand
by the attorney-general;
(iv) the provisions of section 106 (4) shall not be applicable where such
an accused has already pleaded to the charge.
Section 6 (2)
If the court proceedings which have been suspended under subsection (1) (c) are
proceeded with later-
(a) and the trial has already commenced, the plea which has already been
recorded shall stand and the proceedings shall-
(i) if the court is similarly constituted, be resumed from where they
were suspended; or
(ii) if the court is differently constituted, be proceeded with de novo;
(b) the written admission referred to in subsection (1) (c) may not be used
against such an accused during the prosecution.

PENDLEX: Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 after amendment by the Criminal

Procedure Amendment Act 86 of 1996
Section 217 (1) (a)
that a confession made to a peace officer, other than a magistrate or a justice who
is not a member of the South African Police Service, or, in the case of a peace officer
referred to in section 334, a confession made to such peace officer which relates to an
offence with reference to which such peace officer is authorized to exercise any power
conferred upon him or her under that section, shall not be admissible in evidence
unless confirmed and reduced to writing in the presence of a magistrate or such
justice; and

PENDLEX: Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 after amendment by the Judicial

Matters Amendment Act 66 of 2008
Section 55 (2A) (a)
If the court issues a warrant of arrest in terms of subsection (2) in respect of a
summons which is endorsed in accordance with section 57 (3) (a)-
(i) an endorsement to the same effect shall be made on the warrant in
question;
(ii) the court may make a further endorsement on the warrant to the effect
that the accused may admit his or her guilt in respect of the failure to
appear in answer to the summons or to remain in attendance at the
criminal proceedings, and that he or she may upon arrest pay to a clerk of
the court or at a police station a fine stipulated on the warrant in respect of
that failure, which fine shall not exceed the amount to be imposed in terms
of subsection (2), without appearing in court.
Section 56 (1)
If an accused is alleged to have committed an offence referred to in section 57 (2)
(a), a peace officer may, whether or not the accused is in custody, hand to the accused
a written notice which shall-
(a) specify the name, residential address and the occupation or status of the
accused;
(b) call upon the accused to appear at a place and on a date at a time specified
in the written notice to answer a charge of having committed the offence in

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 197 of 221

question;
(c) contain an endorsement in terms of section 57 that the accused may admit
his or her guilt in respect of the offence in question and that he or she may
pay the stipulated fine as determined by the Minister in terms of section 57
(2) (b) in respect thereof without appearing in court; and
(d) contain a certificate under the hand of the peace officer that he or she has
handed the original of that written notice to the accused and that he or she
has explained to the accused the import thereof.
Section 56 (2)
If the accused is in custody, the effect of a written notice handed to him or her
under subsection (1) shall be that he or she be released forthwith from custody.
Section 57 - Admission of guilt and payment of fine without appearance in
court
(1) An admission of guilt fine referred to in this section may only be imposed and
paid in respect of an offence which the Minister determines, as provided for in
subsection (2).
(2) For purposes of this section, the Minister may, from time to time, by notice in
the Gazette, and after consultation with the Chief Justice, the National Director of
Public Prosecutions and the Minister for Safety and Security, determine-
(a) the offences in respect of which an admission of guilt fine may be imposed
and paid; and
(b) the amount of an admission of guilt fine which can be stipulated in a
summons under section 54 (in this section referred to as the summons) or
a written notice under section 56 (in this section referred to as the written
notice), in respect of each offence.
(3) Where-
(a) a summons is issued against an accused under section 54 and the public
prosecutor of the court concerned, in accordance with the directives issued
by the National Director of Public Prosecutions provided for in subsection
(11), endorses the summons to the effect that the accused may admit his
or her guilt in respect of the offence in question and that he or she may pay
a fine stipulated on the summons in respect of that offence without
appearing in court; or
(b) a written notice under section 56 is handed to the accused and the
endorsement in terms of subsection (1) (c) of that section purports to have
been made by a peace officer,
the accused may, without appearing in court, admit his or her guilt in respect of the
offence in question by paying the fine stipulated (in this section referred to as the
admission of guilt fine) either to the clerk of the magistrate's court which has
jurisdiction or at any police station within the area of jurisdiction of that court or, if the
summons or written notice in question is endorsed to the effect that the fine may be
paid at a specified local authority, at that local authority.
(4) (a) The summons or the written notice may stipulate that the admission of guilt
fine shall be paid before a date specified in the summons or written notice, as the case
may be.
(b) An admission of guilt fine may be accepted by the clerk of the court
concerned notwithstanding that the date referred to in paragraph (a) or the date on
which the accused should have appeared in court has expired.
(5) (a)(i) Subject to the provisions of subparagraphs (ii) and (iii), an accused who
intends to pay an admission of guilt fine in terms of subsection (1), shall surrender the
summons or the written notice, as the case may be, at the time of the payment of the
fine.
(ii) If the summons or written notice, as the case may be, is lost or is not

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 198 of 221

available and the copy thereof known as the control document-

(aa) is not available at the place of payment referred to in subsection (3), the
accused shall surrender a copy of the summons or written notice, as the
case may be, at the time of the payment of the fine; or
(bb) is available at the place of payment referred to in subsection (3), the
admission of guilt fine may be accepted without the surrender of a copy of
the summons or written notice, as the case may be.
(iii) If an accused in respect of whom a warrant has been endorsed in terms
of section 55 (2A) intends to pay the relevant admission of guilt fine, the clerk of the
court may, after he or she has satisfied himself or herself that the warrant is so
endorsed, accept the admission of guilt fine without the surrender of the summons,
written notice or copy thereof, as the case may be.
(b) A copy referred to in paragraph (a) (ii) may be obtained by the accused at
the magistrate's court, police station or local authority where the copy of the summons
or written notice in question known as the control document is filed.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (3), an accused referred to in
paragraph (a) (iii) may pay the admission of guilt fine in question to the clerk of the
court where he or she appears in consequence of that warrant, and if that clerk of the
court is not the clerk of the magistrate's court referred to in subsection (3), he or she
shall transfer that admission of guilt fine to the latter clerk of the magistrate's court.
(6) No provision of this section shall be construed as preventing a public prosecutor
attached to the court concerned from reducing an admission of guilt fine on good cause
shown in writing.
(7) An admission of guilt fine stipulated in respect of a summons or a written notice
shall be in accordance with the determination made by the Minister from time to time
in respect of the offence in question, as provided for in subsection (2).
(8) An admission of guilt fine paid at a police station or a local authority in terms of
subsection (3) and the summons or, as the case may be, the written notice
surrendered under subsection (5), shall, as soon as is expedient, be forwarded to the
clerk of the magistrate's court which has jurisdiction, and that clerk of the court shall
thereafter, as soon as is expedient, enter the essential particulars of that summons or,
as the case may be, that written notice and of any summons or written notice
surrendered to the clerk of the court under subsection (5), in the criminal record book
for admissions of guilt, whereupon the accused concerned shall, subject to the
provisions of subsection (9), be deemed to have been convicted and sentenced by the
court in respect of the offence in question.
(9) The judicial officer presiding at the court in question shall examine the
documents and if it appears to him or her that a conviction or sentence under
subsection (8) is not in accordance with justice or, except as provided in subsection
(6), is not in accordance with a determination made by the Minister under subsection
(2) or does not comply with a directive issued by the National Director of Public
Prosecutions as provided for in subsection (11) that judicial officer may set aside the
conviction and sentence and direct that the accused be prosecuted in the ordinary
course, whereupon the accused may be summoned to answer that charge as the public
prosecutor may deem fit to prefer: Provided that where the admission of guilt fine
which has been paid exceeds the amount determined by the Minister under subsection
(2), the judicial officer may, in lieu of setting aside the conviction and sentence in
question, direct that the amount by which the admission of guilt fine exceeds the said
determination be refunded to the accused concerned.
(10) Any determination made by the Minister under this section must be tabled in
Parliament for approval.
(11) (a) The National Director of Public Prosecutions must issue directives regarding
the cases and circumstances in which a prosecutor may issue a summons referred to in
subsection (3) (a) or a written notice referred to in section 57A (1) in which an
admission of guilt fine may be imposed in respect of the offences which the Minister

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 199 of 221

determines under subsection (2) and any directive so issued must be observed in
the application of this section.
(b) The directives referred to in paragraph (a) must ensure that adequate
disciplinary steps will be taken against a prosecutor who fails to comply with any
directive.
(c) The Minister must submit any directives issued under this subsection to
Parliament before those directives take effect, and the first directives so issued, must
be submitted to Parliament within four months of the commencement of this section.
(d) Any directive issued under this subsection may be amended or withdrawn in
like manner.
Section 57A (1)
If an accused who is alleged to have committed an offence, as provided for in
section 57 (2) (a), has appeared in court and is-
(a) in custody awaiting trial on that charge and not on another more serious
charge;
(b) released on bail under section 59 or 60; or
(c) released on warning under section 72,
the public prosecutor may, before the accused has entered a plea and in accordance
with the directives issued by the National Director of Public Prosecutions under section
57 (11), hand to the accused a written notice, or cause the notice to be delivered to
the accused by a peace officer, containing an endorsement in terms of section 57 that
the accused may admit his or her guilt in respect of the offence in question and that he
or she may pay the stipulated fine in respect of that offence, as determined by the
Minister in terms of section 57 (2) (b), without appearing in court again.
Section 57A (4)
The provisions of sections 55, 56 (2) and (4) and 57 (1), (2), (4) to (9), inclusive,
shall apply mutatis mutandis to the relevant written notice handed or delivered to an
accused under subsection (1) as if, in respect of section 57, the notice were the written
notice referred to in that section and as if the fine stipulated in the written notice were
also the admission of guilt fine referred to in that section.
Section 341 (5)
(a) The amount to be specified in any notification issued under this section as the
amount of the fine which a court would probably impose in respect of any offence,
shall be determined from time to time by the Minister by notice in the Gazette, after
consultation with the Chief Justice, the National Director of Public Prosecutions and the
Minister of Safety and Security, and may differ from the admission of guilt fine
determined under section 57 (2) (b) for the offence in question.
(b) Any determination made by the Minister under paragraph (a) must be tabled
in Parliament for approval.

PENDLEX: Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 after amendment by the Prevention

and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act 7 of 2013
Section 18 (h)
offences as provided for in section[s] 4, 5 and 7 and involvement in these
offences as provided for in section 10 of the Prevention and Combating of
Trafficking in Persons Act, 2013;
Section 261A - Trafficking in persons
(1) In this section-
'Basic Conditions of Employment Act' means the Basic Conditions of
Employment Act, 1997 (Act 75 of 1997);
'Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act'

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 200 of 221

means the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act,
2007 (Act 32 of 2007);
'Immigration Act' means the Immigration Act, 2002 (Act 13 of 2002; and
'Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act' means the
Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2013.
(2) If the evidence on a charge of trafficking in persons provided for in section 4 or
any involvement in the offence as provided for in section 10 of the Prevention and
Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act, does not prove the offence of trafficking in
persons or the involvement in the offence, but the offence of-
(a) assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm;
(b) common assault;
(c) rape as provided for in section 3 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and
Related Matters) Amendment Act;
(d) compelled rape as provided for in section 4 of the Criminal Law (Sexual
Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act;
(e) sexual assault as provided for in section 5 of the Criminal Law (Sexual
Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act;
(f) compelled sexual assault as provided for in section 6 of the Criminal Law
(Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act;
(g) compelled self-sexual assault as provided for in section 7 of the Criminal
Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act;
(h) debt bondage as provided for in section 5 or any involvement in the offence
as provided for in section 10 of the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking
in Persons Act;
(i) the possession, destruction, confiscation, concealment of or tampering with
documents as provided for in section 6 or any involvement in the offence as
provided for in section 10 of the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in
Persons Act;
(j) using the services of a victim of trafficking as provided for in section 7 or
any involvement in the offence as provided for in section 10 of the
Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act;
(k) conduct facilitating trafficking in persons as provided for in section 8 or any
involvement in the offence as provided for in section 10 of the Prevention
and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act;
(l) transporting a person within or across the borders of the Republic knowing
that the person is a victim of trafficking as provided for in section 9 (1) or
any involvement in the offence as provided for in section 10 of the
Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act;
(m) entering or remaining in, or departing from the Republic as provided for in
section 49 (1) (a) of the Immigration Act;
(n) knowingly assisting a person to enter or remain in, or depart from the
Republic as provided for in section 49 (2) of the Immigration Act;
(o) employing a child as provided for in section 43 of the Basic Conditions of
Employment Act; or
(p) forced labour as provided for in section 48 of the Basic Conditions of
Employment Act,
the accused may be found guilty of the offence so proved.
Section 299A (1) (e)
kidnapping;
Section 299A (1) (f)
any conspiracy, incitement or attempt to commit any offence contemplated in
paragraphs (a) to (e); or;

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 201 of 221

Section 299A (1) (g)

offences as provided for in section[s] 4, 5 and 7 and involvement in these
offences as provided for in section 10 of the Prevention and Combating of
Trafficking in Persons Act, 2013.
Schedule 1 - 'Trafficking' item
Trafficking in persons as provided for in section 4 and involvement in the offence as
provided for in section 10 of the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons
Act, 2013.
Schedule 2, Part II - 'Trafficking' item
Offences provided for in section[s] 4, 5 and 7 and involvement in these offences as
provided for in section 10 of the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons
Act, 2013.
Schedule 2, Part III - 'Trafficking' item
Offences as provided for in section[s] 4, 5 and 7 and involvement in these offences
as provided for in section 10 of the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons
Act, 2013.
Schedule 5 - 'Trafficking' item
Offences as provided for in section[s] 4, 5, 7 and 9 (1) and involvement in these
offences as provided for in section 10 of the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in
Persons Act, 2013.
Schedule 6 - 'Trafficking' item
Offences as provided for in section[s] 4, 5 and 7 and involvement in these offences
as provided for in section 10 of the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons
Act, 2013.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AMENDMENT ACT 56 OF 1979

[ASSENTED TO 21 MAY 1979] [DATE OF COMMENCEMENT: 1 JUNE 1979]

(English text signed by the State President)

ACT
To amend the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977, to provide for the issuing of
warrants for the further detention of certain persons; to make further
provision for the designation of a court as a court of summary trial; to provide
for the committal of accused to regional courts for trial; to include an accused
released on bail or on warning in the category of accused who may be called
upon to plead in a magistrate's court in a trial intended for a superior court;
to extend the powers of attorneys-general with regard to a plea in a
magistrate's court on a charge justiciable in a superior court; to provide for
persons to plead in magistrate's courts on charges to be adjudicated in
regional courts; to make it an offence for an accused released on warning to
fail to appear at adjourned proceedings; to make further provision for the
proof of certain facts by means of affidavits and for the admissibility of
confessions and admissions; to increase the awards that regional courts and
magistrate's courts may make by way of compensation for damage or loss
caused by an offence; to extend certain bail provisions to bail pending review;
to redefine 'local authority' in Schedule 3; and to effect certain textual
alterations; and to provide for incidental matters.

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 202 of 221

1
Amends section 50 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by adding
paragraph (d) to the proviso.

2
Amends section 60 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting the
expression 'subsection (1)' for the expression 'paragraph (a)'.

3
Substitutes section 75 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

4
Inserts section 115A in the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

5
Substitutes section 119 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

6
Amends section 121 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
subsection (3).

7
Inserts Chapter 19A (sections 122A, 122B, 122C and 122D) in the Criminal
Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

8
Amends section 123 (a) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
the expression '121 (3) or 122 (1)' for the expression '122 (1)'.

9
Amends section 124 (a) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
the expression '121 (1) or 122 (1)' for the expression '122 (1)'.

10
Amends section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, as follows: paragraph
(a) substitutes subsection (1); and paragraph (b) substitutes in subsection (3) (a) the
expression '75, 121 (3) (b) or 122 (2) (i)' for the expression '75 or 122 (2) (i)'.

11
Amends section 170 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
subsection (1).

12
Amends section 212 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
subsection (3).

13
Amends section 217 (1) (b) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
paragraph (i).

14
Inserts section 219A in the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 203 of 221

15
Amends section 296 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by adding subsection
(2), the existing section becoming subsection (1).

16
Amends section 300 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
paragraph (a) of the proviso.

17
Amends section 307 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
subsection (6).

18
Amends Schedule 3 to the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting the
words 'any council, board or committee established in terms of any law for the
management of the affairs of any division, city, town, borough, village or other similar
community' for the words 'a local authority referred to in section 341'.

19 Short title
This Act shall be called the Criminal Procedure Amendment Act, 1979.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AMENDMENT ACT 64 OF 1982

[ASSENTED TO 26 MARCH 1982] [DATE OF COMMENCEMENT: 21 APRIL 1982]

(Afrikaans text signed by the State President)

ACT
To amend the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977, so as to make provision for the
taking of photographs of persons arrested upon any charge, released on bail
or on warning or convicted of any offence or against whom a preparatory
examination has been concluded on any charge; to further regulate the
deposit by an accused of bail money with a police official at the place where
the accused is in custody; to extend the category of accused who may be
called upon to plead in a magistrate's court in a trial intended for a superior
court; to permit assessors at criminal trials in superior courts to take part in
decisions upon the admissibility of certain evidence; to make provision that
an accused may be found guilty of the offence of malicious injury to property
if the evidence on a charge of housebreaking with intent to commit an offence
specified in the charge proves the first-named but not the last-named offence;
to limit the circumstances under which a court may order that a person
convicted of any of certain offences be detained at a rehabilitation centre; to
make further provision in connection with the compounding of certain
offences; and to provide for matters connected therewith.

1
Amends section 37 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, as follows: paragraph
(a) adds subsection (1) (d); paragraph (b) substitutes subsection (4); and paragraph
(c) substitutes subsection (5).

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 204 of 221

Amends section 60 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting

subsection (1).

3
Substitutes section 119 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

4
Amends section 145 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
subsection (4).

5
Substitutes section 146 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

6
Amends section 262 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
subsection (1).

7
Amends section 296 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by adding the
proviso.

8
Amends section 307 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
paragraph (b).

9
Amends section 341 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
paragraphs (a) and (b).

10 Short title
This Act shall be called the Criminal Procedure Amendment Act, 1982.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AMENDMENT ACT 33 OF 1986

[DATE OF COMMENCEMENT: 4 APRIL 1986]

[ASSENTED TO 25 MARCH 1986]
(Unless otherwise indicated)

(Afrikaans text signed by the State President)

ACT
To amend the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977, so as to provide that the person
making an arrest may place in safe custody any dangerous object found on
the person arrested; to increase the maximum fines which may be imposed
for certain offences; to provide for the acceptance of admission of guilt where
the summons or written notice is lost or where the accused is in custody; to
further regulate the release of an accused on warning; to provide that a
person authorized thereto by the attorney-general may also designate the
court for a summary trial; to provide for the setting aside of the conviction by
a court that finds that the accused is not capable of making a proper defence,
or was by reason of mental illness or mental defect not criminally responsible;

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 205 of 221

to make further provision for the service of a written notice on a person on

whom periodical imprisonment was imposed; to further regulate the
imposition of a whipping and a moderate correction of a whipping; to make
further provision in connection with the performance of community service as
a condition of the postponement of sentence or the suspension of sentence;
to provide for the liability of the State for patrimonial loss arising from the
performance of community service; to provide for the review of proceedings
before sentence; to provide that any person who has been sentenced to a
whipping may be released on warning pending the review of the proceedings;
and to extend the definition of 'local authority' for certain purposes so as to
include a divisional council and a regional services council; and to provide for
matters connected therewith.

1
Amends section 23 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by adding subsection
(2), the existing section becoming subsection (1).

2
Amends section 28 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting the
words following upon paragraph (b) (ii).

3
Amends section 41 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
subsection (2).

4
Amends section 47 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
subsection (2).

5
Amends section 55 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, as follows: paragraph
(a) substitutes in subsection (2) the words preceding the proviso; paragraph (b)
inserts subsection (2A); and paragraph (c) substitutes subsection (3) (a).

6
Amends section 57 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
subsection (3).
[Date of commencement of s. 6: 1 September 1987.]

7
Amends section 72 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, as follows: paragraph
(a) substitutes subsection (1) (a); paragraph (b); substitutes subsection (1) (b);
paragraph (c) substitutes subsection (2); paragraph (d) substitutes subsection (3) (b);
and paragraph (e) substitutes subsection (4).

8
Amends section 74 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
subsection (7).

9
Amends section 75 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
paragraph (c).

10

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 206 of 221

Amends section 77 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting

subsection (6).

11
Amends section 78 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
subsection (6).

12
Amends section 154 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
subsection (5).

13
Amends section 170 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
subsection (2).

14
Amends section 183 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
subsection (2).

15
Amends section 250 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
subsection (3).

16
Amends section 285 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by adding
paragraph (b), the existing subsection becoming paragraph (a).

17
Amends section 292 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
subsection (1).

18
Amends section 293 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, as follows: paragraph
(a) deletes paragraph (a) (iv); paragraph (b) adds paragraph (a) (v), (vi) and (vii);
and paragraph (c) substitutes paragraph (c).

19
Amends section 294 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by adding
paragraph (b), the existing subsection becoming paragraph (a).

20
Amends section 297 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, as follows: paragraph
(a) substitutes item (cc) of subsection (1) (a) (i); paragraph (b) inserts subsection
(1A); paragraph (c) substitutes in subsection (8) the words following upon paragraph
(b); and paragraph (d) inserts subsections (8A) and (8B).
[Date of commencement of s. 20: 1 February 1989.]

21
Inserts section 297A in the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.
[Date of commencement of s. 21: 1 February 1989.]

22
Inserts section 304A in the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 207 of 221

23
Amends section 308 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by adding subsection
(3).

24
Substitutes section 338 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

25
Amends section 341 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
paragraph (e).

26 Short title and commencement

(1) This Act shall be called the Criminal Procedure Amendment Act, 1986.
(2) Sections 6, 20 and 21 shall come into operation on a date fixed by the State
President by proclamation in the Gazette.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AMENDMENT ACT 26 OF 1987

[DATE OF COMMENCEMENT: 24 JUNE 1987]

[ASSENTED TO 16 JUNE 1987]
(Unless otherwise indicated)

(Afrikaans text signed by the State President)

ACT
To amend the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977, so as to replace certain obsolete
references to laws and to delete certain obsolete provisions; to make further
provision for the acceptance of an admission of guilt fine where the summons
or written notice is lost; to further regulate the issuing of a direction by the
Minister of Justice to transfer criminal proceedings from the area of
jurisdiction of one attorney-general to that of another; to further regulate the
duration of orders which may be issued in respect of convicted juveniles; to
make compulsory the hearing of a report of a probation officer by a court
before a person is committed to a rehabilitation centre; to amend the
Afrikaans text of section 309A; to further regulate the consideration of a
petition for leave to appeal; to extend the definition of 'local authority'; and to
insert certain offences in Schedule 1 to the said Act; and to provide for
matters connected therewith.

1
Amends section 15 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting in
subsection (2) the words preceding the proviso.
[Date of commencement of s. 1: 26 February 1988.]

2
Amends section 57 (3) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, as follows:
paragraph (a) substitutes paragraph (a); and paragraph (b) substitutes paragraph (c).

3
Amends section 59 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
paragraph (a).

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 208 of 221

4
Substitutes section 71 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.
[Date of commencement of s. 4: 26 February 1988.]

5
Amends section 72 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting the
words preceding paragraph (a).

6
Amends section 111 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, as follows: paragraph
(a) substitutes subsection (1); paragraph (b) substitutes subsection (2) (a); and
paragraph (c) substitutes subsection (4) (a).

7
Amends section 195 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
paragraph (b).
[Date of commencement of s. 7: 26 February 1988.]

8
Amends section 254 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
subsection (1).
[Date of commencement of s. 8: 26 February 1988.]

9
Amends section 290 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, as follows: paragraph
(a) substitutes paragraph (d) of subsection (1); paragraph (b) substitutes the words
following upon paragraph (b) of subsection (3); and paragraph (c) substitutes
subsection (4).
[Date of commencement of s. 9: 26 February 1988.]

10
Substitutes section 291 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.
[Date of commencement of s. 10: 26 February 1988.]

11
Amends section 296 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
the words preceding the proviso.

12
Amends section 300 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by deleting paragraph
(b) of subsection (1).
[Date of commencement of s. 12: 26 February 1988.]

13
Amends section 302 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, as follows: paragraph
(a) substitutes subparagraph (i) of subsection (1) (a) (date of commencement: 26
February 1988); and paragraph (b) deletes subsection (3) (b).

14
Amends section 309A (1) (a) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 in the
Afrikaans text.

15

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 209 of 221

Amends section 316 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, as follows: paragraph
(a) substitutes subsection (7); and paragraph (b) substitutes subsection (9) (b).

16
Amends section 341 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
paragraph (e).

17
Substitutes Schedule 1 to the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

18 Short title and commencement

(1) This Act shall be called the Criminal Procedure Amendment Act, 1987.
(2) Sections 1, 4, 7 to 10, 12 and 13 (a) shall come into operation on a date fixed
by the State President by proclamation in the Gazette.
(3) Different dates may be fixed in terms of subsection (2) in respect of the said
provisions.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AMENDMENT ACT 8 OF 1989

[ASSENTED TO 1 MARCH 1989] [DATE OF COMMENCEMENT: 1 AUGUST 1989]

(Afrikaans text signed by the acting State President)

ACT
To amend the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977, so as to provide for the entering
into of international agreements with states regarding the putting into
operation of suspended sentences; and to provide for matters connected
therewith.

1
Inserts section 297A in the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.
[NB: Since Act 51 of 1977 already contained a s. 297A, the above section was renumbered
297B by s. 6 of the Judicial Matters Amendment Act 77 of 1989.]

2 Short title and commencement

This Act shall be called the Criminal Procedure Amendment Act, 1989, and shall
come into operation on a date to be fixed by the State President by proclamation in the
Gazette.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AMENDMENT ACT 5 OF 1991

[DATE OF COMMENCEMENT: 23 DECEMBER 1991]

[ASSENTED TO 15 MARCH 1991]
(Unless otherwise indicated)

(English text signed by the State President)

as amended by

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 210 of 221

General Law Sixth Amendment Act 204 of 1993

ACT
To amend the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977, so as to amend certain
definitions; to further regulate certain matters regarding the forfeiture of
articles; to authorize the Minister of Justice to adjust from time to time by
notice in the Gazette the monetary limit in respect of the maximum admission
of guilt fine which may be paid in terms of a written notice or a summons, the
maximum fine which may be imposed upon an accused after a conviction
pursuant to a plea of guilty only, the compensation which may be awarded by
a lower court to any person who has suffered damage as a result of an
offence tried by that court, and the fine which may be imposed in a lower
court and which is in the ordinary course of events subject to review by a
judge having jurisdiction; to provide that a prosecution will in certain
circumstances proceed with the charge initially laid against the accused; to
provide for the issuing by the court of an order for the further detention of an
accused who, on account of any physical indisposition, cannot appear before
the court; to provide that a person who is likely to give information as to an
alleged offence does not have to appear before a magistrate in certain
circumstances for questioning; to further regulate the proof of certain facts
with regard to precious metals or precious stones; to provide that certain
convictions shall fall away after a lapse of 10 years; and to extend the
antedating of sentences of imprisonment to include cases where a sentence
of death is set aside and substituted by imprisonment; and to provide for
incidental matters.

1
Amends section 1 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, as follows: paragraph
(a) substitutes the definition of 'bank'; paragraph (b) substitutes the definition of
'police official'; and paragraph (c) substitutes the definition of 'rules of court'.

2
Amends section 31 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
paragraph (b).

3
Amends section 32 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
subsection (2).

4
Amends section 33 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
subsections (1) and (2).

5
Amends section 56 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting the
words preceding paragraph (a).
[Date of commencement of s. 5: 1 May 1992.]

6
Amends section 57 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, as follows: paragraph
(a) substitutes subsection (1) (a); and paragraph (b) substitutes subsection (5) (b).
[Date of commencement of s. 6: 1 May 1992.]

7
Amends section 112 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
paragraphs (a) and (b).

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 211 of 221

[Date of commencement of s. 7: 1 May 1992.]

8
Amends section 113 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by adding subsection
(2), the existing section becoming subsection (1).

9
Amends section 159 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by adding subsection
(4).

10 ......
[S. 10 repealed by s. 17 of Act 204 of 1993.]

11
Amends section 212 the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
subsection (5).

12
Inserts section 271A in the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

13
Substitutes section 282 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

14
Amends section 300 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
paragraph (a).
[Date of commencement of s. 14: 1 May 1992.]

15
Amends section 302 (1) (a) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
subparagraph (ii).
[Date of commencement of s. 15: 1 May 1992.]

16 Short title and commencement

(1) This Act shall be called the Criminal Procedure Amendment Act, 1991, and shall
come into operation on a date determined by the State President by proclamation in
the Gazette.
(2) Different dates may be so determined in respect of different provisions of this
Act.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE SECOND AMENDMENT ACT 75 OF 1995

[ASSENTED TO 21 SEPTEMBER 1995] [DATE OF COMMENCEMENT: 21 SEPTEMBER 1995]

(English text signed by the President)

ACT
To amend the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977, so as to further regulate the
detention of arrested persons; to make provision for accused persons to be
entitled to be released on bail in certain circumstances to give a court a
discretion to postpone bail proceedings in certain circumstances; to empower

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 212 of 221

a court to, in respect of certain serious offences, order the accused to satisfy
the court that the interests of justice do not require his or her detention in
custody; to empower the attorney-general to appeal against the decision of a
court to release an accused on bail and the imposition of bail conditions; to
set out the factors which should be taken into account in considering bail; to
further regulate bail proceedings; to revoke the power of an attorney-general
to prevent the granting of bail in certain cases; to render the non-appearance
of persons who are on bail in certain cases and the non-compliance of bail
conditions punishable; to further regulate the cancellation of bail; to empower
a superior court to consider the granting of bail after the refusal of such an
application in a magistrate's court where an accused is standing trial in the
superior court; and to make the bail-related provisions in the Criminal
Procedure Act, 1977, as amended, applicable in the whole of the national
territory; and to provide for matters connected therewith.

1
Amends section 50 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, as follows: paragraph
(a) substitutes subsection (3); and paragraph (b) adds subsections (6) and (7).

2
Amends section 59 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
paragraph (a).

3
Substitutes section 60 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

4
Repeals section 61 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

5
Amends section 63 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
subsection (1).

6
Substitutes section 64 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

7
Inserts section 65A in the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

8
Amends section 66 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
subsection (1).

9
Inserts section 67A in the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

10 and 11
Substitute respectively sections 68 and 70 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

12
Amends section 307 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, as follows: paragraph
(a) substitutes subsection (2) (b); paragraph (b) inserts subsection (3A); and
paragraph (c) substitutes subsection (6).

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 213 of 221

13
Amends section 309 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by adding subsection
(5).

14
Adds Schedule 5 to the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

15 Transitional provisions
(1) Any provision contained in any other law that is in respect of bail inconsistent
with the provisions of sections 37, 50, 58 up to and including 71, 72, 141, 144, 170,
304, 307, 308, 308A and 321 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 (Act 51 of 1977), as
amended by this Act, shall be deemed to be amended to the extent of the
inconsistency thereof.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1), bail proceedings which have
commenced before the date of commencement of this Act in any superior court,
regional court or magistrate's court shall, if such proceedings have at that date not
been concluded, be continued and concluded as if subsection (1) has not come into
operation.

16 Short title
This Act shall be called the Criminal Procedure Second Amendment Act, 1995.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE SECOND AMENDMENT ACT 85 OF 1996

[ASSENTED TO 6 NOVEMBER 1996] [DATE OF COMMENCEMENT: 29 NOVEMBER 1996]

(English text signed by the State President)

ACT
To amend the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977, so as to regulate the setting of
traps and the engaging in undercover operations; to determine the
circumstances under which evidence so obtained will be admissible as
evidence; and to provide for matters incidental thereto.

1
Inserts section 252A in the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

2 Short title
This Act shall be called the Criminal Procedure Second Amendment Act, 1996.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AMENDMENT ACT 86 OF 1996

[DATE OF COMMENCEMENT: 1 SEPTEMBER 1997]

[ASSENTED TO 6 NOVEMBER 1996]
(Unless otherwise indicated)

(English text signed by the State President)

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 214 of 221

ACT
To amend the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977, so as to make further provision
for the payment of admission of guilt fines; to make provision for an accused
to be informed of his or her right to legal representation; to further regulate
the transfer of a case to a court having jurisdiction; to further regulate the
correction of a plea of guilty; to further regulate the committal of an accused
for sentence by the regional court after trial in the magistrate's court; to
provide that evidence may be given by means of closed circuit television or
similar electronic media; to further regulate cross-examination and re-
examination of witnesses; to further regulate the admissibility of certain
evidence given by means of affidavits; to make provision for the proof of
undisputed evidence in respect of an accused who is legally represented; to
further regulate the admissibility of confessions; to make provision for
admissions by the State; and to empower the court to limit unreasonable
delays; and to provide for matters connected therewith.

1
Inserts section 57A in the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

2
Amends section 73 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by inserting
subsections (2A), (2B) and (2C).
[Date of commencement of s. 2: 28 June 2002]

3
Amends section 75 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by adding
paragraph (b), the existing subsection becoming paragraph (a).

4
Amends section 106 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by adding
paragraph (i)

5
Amends section 113 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
the words preceding the proviso.

6
Amends section 116 (3) (a) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
the proviso.

7
Substitutes section 158 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

8
Amends section 166 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by adding subsection
(3).

9
Amends section 212 (4) (a) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by adding a
further proviso.

10
Inserts section 212B in the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 215 of 221

11
Amends section 217 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
paragraph (a).
[Date of commencement of s. 11: to be proclaimed]

12
Substitutes section 220 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

13
Inserts section 342A in the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.
[Date of commencement of s. 13 in so far as it inserts sub-ss. (3) (e) and (5) of s. 342A in Act
51 of 1977: to be proclaimed]

14 Short title and commencement

This Act shall be called the Criminal Procedure Amendment Act, 1996, and shall
come into operation on a date determined by the President by proclamation in the
Gazette.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AMENDMENT ACT 76 OF 1997

[ASSENTED TO 26 NOVEMBER 1997] [DATE OF COMMENCEMENT: 28 MAY 1999]

(Unless otherwise indicated)

(Afrikaans text signed by the President)

Regulations under this Act

ACT
To amend the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977, so as to further regulate appeals
against decisions of lower courts; to regulate legal representation in respect
of appeals; to repeal certain provisions; and to provide for matters connected
therewith.

1
Repeals section 305 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

2
Amends section 309 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, as follows: paragraph
(a) substitutes subsection 1 (a); paragraph (b) substitutes subsection (2); paragraph
(c) inserts subsection (3A); and paragraph (d) deletes subsection (4) (a).

3
Inserts sections 309B, 309C and 309D in the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

4 Savings
(1) Pending the commencement of the Legal Aid Guide as contemplated in section
3A of the Legal Aid Act, 1969, 1 and to the extent that the Legal Aid Guide, existing at
the commencement of this Act, does not regulate the position of the granting of legal
aid or legal representation in respect of the proceedings referred to in section 3 of this

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 216 of 221

Act, the Legal Aid Board 2 shall be competent to draft directives, in consultation with
the Minister, in terms of which legal aid or legal representation is rendered or made
available for purposes of section 3 of this Act.
(2) (a) The directives referred to in subsection (1) must be published in the
Gazette.
(b) Before the directives are published in the Gazette, they must be submitted to
Parliament and tabled as soon as possible.
[Date of commencement of s. 4: 20 April 2001.]
1 the Legal Aid South Africa Act 39 of 2014 (see s. 25 (2) of that Act)
2 the Board established under section 2 of the Legal Aid South Africa Act 39 of 2014 (see s. 25
(3) of that Act)

5 Short title and commencement

(1) This Act shall be called the Criminal Procedure Amendment Act, 1997, and shall
come into operation on a date fixed by the President by proclamation in the Gazette.
(2) Different dates may be so fixed in respect of different provisions of this Act.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE SECOND AMENDMENT ACT 85 OF 1997

[ASSENTED TO 26 NOVEMBER 1997] [DATE OF COMMENCEMENT: 1 AUGUST 1998]

(English text signed by the President)

as amended by
Judicial Matters Amendment Act 34 of 1998

ACT
To amend the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977, so as to further regulate the
detention of arrested persons; to further regulate the hearing of bail
proceedings; to empower an attorney-general or a prosecutor authorised
thereto by the attorney-general concerned to grant bail outside ordinary court
hours in respect of certain specified offences; to further regulate the release
of an accused on bail who has been convicted of certain serious offences; to
further regulate the factors which should be taken into account by a court in
considering bail; to empower a court, in respect of certain serious offences, to
detain an accused in custody unless the accused satisfies the court that
exceptional circumstances exist why he or she should be released; to further
define the said serious offences; to empower the attorney-general to issue a
written confirmation to the effect that the offence with which the accused is
charged is such a serious offence; to place a duty on an accused, or his or her
legal adviser, at bail proceedings, to inform the court whether he or she has
previous convictions or whether there are other charges pending against him
or her; to further regulate the cancellation of bail and the release of an
accused on warning; and to regulate the right of access to any information,
record or document during bail proceedings; and to provide for matters
connected therewith.

1
Amends section 50 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, as follows: paragraph
(a) substitutes subsections (1) and (2); paragraph (b) substitutes subsection (6); and

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 217 of 221

paragraph (c) deletes subsection (7).

2
Amends section 58 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by adding the proviso.

3
Inserts section 59A in the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.
[S. 3 amended by s. 23 of Act 34 of 1998.]

4
Amends section 60 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, as follows: paragraph
(a) substitutes subsection (1) (b); paragraph (b) substitutes subsection (2); paragraph
(c) substitutes subsection (4) (a); paragraph (d) adds subsection (4) (e); paragraph
(e) inserts subsection (8A); paragraph (f) substitutes subsection (11); paragraph (g)
inserts subsections (11A) and (11B); and paragraph (h) adds subsection (14).

5 and 6
Substitute respectively sections 64 and 68 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

7
Inserts section 72A in the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

8
Amends section 75 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by adding subsection
(3).

9
Substitutes Schedule 5 to the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

10
Adds Schedules 6 and 7 to the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

11 Short title and commencement

This Act shall be called the Criminal Procedure Second Amendment Act, 1997, and
shall come into operation on a date fixed by the President by proclamation in the
Gazette.
[S. 11, previously s. 12, substituted by s. 24 of Act 34 of 1998.]

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AMENDMENT ACT 17 OF 2001

[ASSENTED TO 13 JULY 2001] [DATE OF COMMENCEMENT: 20 JULY 2001]

(English text signed by the Acting President)

ACT
To amend the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977, so as to further regulate the
presentation of evidence through an intermediary; and to provide for matters
connected therewith.

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 218 of 221

Substitutes section 170A of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

2 Short title
This Act is called the Criminal Procedure Amendment Act, 2001.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE SECOND AMENDMENT ACT 62 OF 2001

[ASSENTED TO 7 DECEMBER 2001] [DATE OF COMMENCEMENT: 14 DECEMBER 2001]

(English text signed by the President)

ACT
To amend the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977, to allow a prosecutor and an
accused to enter into a plea and sentence agreement; and to provide for
matters connected therewith.

1
Substitutes section 105 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

2
Inserts section 105A into the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

3 Short title
This Act is called the Criminal Procedure Second Amendment Act, 2001.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AMENDMENT ACT 42 OF 2003

[ASSENTED TO 17 DECEMBER 2003] [DATE OF COMMENCEMENT: 1 JANUARY 2004]

(English text signed by the President)

ACT
To amend the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977, so as to introduce leave to appeal
and petition procedures in respect of decisions of lower courts; to provide
that certain appeals against decisions by the lower courts and the High Courts
relating to children may be noted without having to apply for leave to appeal;
to provide that certain appeals must be considered on the written agreement
of the parties; and to provide for matters connected therewith.

1
Amends section 302 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by substituting
paragraph (b).

2
Amends section 309 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, as follows: paragraph
(a) substitutes subsection (1) (a); and paragraph (b) substitutes subsection (3A).

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 219 of 221

3
Substitutes sections 309B, 309C and 309D of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of
1977.

4
Amends section 315 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, as follows: paragraph
(a) substitutes subsection (1); paragraph (b) substitutes subsection (2); and
paragraph (c) substitutes subsection (5) (a).

5
Substitutes section 316 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

6
Amends section 317 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, as follows: paragraph
(a) substitutes subsection (1); and paragraph (b) substitutes subsection (5).

7 Transitional arrangements
(1) The provisions of this Act do not apply in respect of any appeal pending before a
High Court or the Supreme Court of Appeal on the date of the commencement of this
Act.
(2) (a) Notwithstanding any amendments to the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 (Act
51 of 1977), effected by this Act, the rules applicable to the Supreme Court of Appeal,
the High Courts and the magistrates' courts in respect of appeals, as existing on the
date of the commencement of this Act, shall, subject to any subsequent amendments
thereto, continue to apply in respect of such appeals: Provided that any reference
therein contained to a provision of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977, that has been
amended by this Act, must be construed as a reference to the corresponding provision
of that Act as amended.
(b) The Rules Board for Courts of Law must revise and, when necessary, amend
all rules in respect of appeals applicable to the Supreme Court of Appeal, the High
Courts and the magistrates' courts in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
(c) Any draft rules contemplated in paragraph (b) must, within three months
after the date of the commencement of this Act, be submitted to Parliament.
(d) Any amended rules must be approved by Parliament and thereafter be
published in the Gazette.

8 Short title and commencement

This Act is called the Criminal Procedure Amendment Act, 2003, and comes into
operation on 1 January 2004 or any earlier date as the President may determine by
proclamation in the Gazette.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AMENDMENT ACT 65 OF 2008

[ASSENTED TO 16 FEBRUARY 2009] [DATE OF COMMENCEMENT: 6 MAY 2009]

(Unless otherwise indicated)

(English text signed by the President)

ACT

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 220 of 221

To amend the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977, to provide for the postponement
of certain criminal proceedings against an accused person in custody awaiting
trial through audiovisual link; to further regulate the falling away of certain
convictions as previous convictions after the expiry of a fixed period; to
provide for the expungement of criminal records of certain persons in respect
of whom certain sentences have been imposed after the compliance with
certain requirements and the expiry of a fixed period; to provide for the
expungement of certain criminal records of persons under legislation enacted
before the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1993, took effect; and
to provide for matters connected therewith.
PARLIAMENT of the Republic of South Africa enacts as follows:-

1
Inserts sections 159A, 159B, 159C and 159D in the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of
1977.
[Date of commencement of s. 1 in respect of the magisterial districts of Bellville, Bloemfontein,
Cape, Durban, Khayelitsha, Kroonstad, Kimberley, Klip River, Kuils River, Mitchells Plain,
Nelspruit, Paarl, Pinetown, Port Elizabeth, Pretoria, Thohoyandou and Wynberg: 1 October
2010; in respect of the magisterial district of Pietermaritzburg: 15 February 2011; in respect
of the magisterial district of Highveld Ridge: 31 October 2011; in respect of the magisterial
districts of Alberton, Benoni, Boksburg, East London, Germiston, Inanda, Johannesburg,
Kempton Park, Krugersdorp, Mdantsane, Moretele, Mthata, Odi, Pietermaritzburg, Randburg,
Roodepoort, Uitenhage, Umlazi, Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging and Wonderboom: 11 November
2011; in respect of the magisterial districts of Phuthadithjaba and Witbank: 30 September
2014; and in respect of the magisterial sub-district of Tembisa: 1 December 2014.]

2
Substitutes section 271A of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

3
Inserts sections 271B, 271C, 271D and 271E in the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of
1977.

4 Short title and commencement

(1) This Act is called the Criminal Procedure Amendment Act, 2008, and comes into
operation on a date fixed by the President by proclamation in the Gazette.
(2) Different dates may be fixed in respect of different areas in the Republic.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AMENDMENT ACT 9 OF 2012

[ASSENTED TO 13 SEPTEMBER 2012] [DATE OF COMMENCEMENT: 25 SEPTEMBER 2012]

(English text signed by the President)

ACT
To amend the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977, so as to substitute and align the
provisions relating to the use of force in effecting arrest of a suspect with a
judgment of the Constitutional Court; and to provide for matters connected
therewith.

PARLIAMENT of the Republic of South Africa enacts, as follows:-

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 Page 221 of 221

Substitutes section 49 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

2 Short title
This Act is called the Criminal Procedure Amendment Act, 2012.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AMENDMENT ACT 8 OF 2013

[ASSENTED TO 7 JULY 2013] [DATE OF COMMENCEMENT: 10 SEPTEMBER 2010]

(English text signed by the President)

ACT
To amend the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977, so as to further regulate
applications for condonation, leave to appeal and further evidence; and to
provide for matters connected therewith.
PARLIAMENT of the Republic of South Africa enacts, as follows:-

1
Amends section 316 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, as follows: paragraph
(a) substitutes subsection (10) (c); and paragraph (b) deletes in subsection (12) the
word 'or' at the end of paragraph (a), inserts in subsection (12) the word 'or' at the
end of paragraph (b) and adds subsection (12) (c).

2 Short title and commencement

This Act is called the Criminal Procedure Amendment Act, 2013, and is deemed to
have come into operation on 10 September 2010.

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