KYLIE VAN DER MERWE - NOTES
SPR 411 - CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
Contents
SUBJECT 1 – INTRODUCTION: ............................................................................................................... 3
1. INTRODUCTION: ..................................................................................................................................4
2.1. Criminal Procedure: Distinction Btwn Substantive & Adjectival Law: ......................................4
2.2. Criminal Procedure:.....................................................................................................................4
2. CRIME CONTROL & DUE PROCESS: .....................................................................................................5
2.1. The Need to Balance Values: ......................................................................................................5
2.2. The Internal Tensions: .................................................................................................................6
2.3. Due Process (Legality, The Rule of Law) And the Need to Limit State Power:..........................7
2.4. The Position of The Victim in The Criminal Process: ..................................................................8
3. CONSTITUTIONAL CRIMINAL PROCEDURE: ..................................................................................... 10
3.1. Introductory Remarks: ............................................................................................................. 10
3.2. A Survey of The Contents of The Bill of Rights: ....................................................................... 11
3.3. Section 35 Of the Constitution:................................................................................................ 12
3.4. The Presumption of Innocence: ............................................................................................... 12
4. ACCUSATORIAL AND INQUISITORIAL PROCEDURES: (be able to draw a distinction between
accusatorial and inquisitorial systems): .................................................................................................. 13
5. SOURCES OF SOUTH AFRICAN CRIMINAL PROCEDURE: ................................................................. 14
5.1. Constitutional Provisions: ........................................................................................................ 14
5.2. The Criminal Procedure Act 51 Of 1997 (‘The Act’):................................................................ 14
5.3. Legislation Other Than the Act: ............................................................................................... 14
5.4. Common Law Rules and Case Law: .......................................................................................... 15
6. REMEDIES (be able to list and define the 7 possible remedies for infractions or threatened
infractions of fundamental rights):.......................................................................................................... 16
6.1. The Writ Of Habeas Corpus (Interdictum De Libero Homine Exhibendo): ............................. 16
6.2. A Civil Action for Damages: ...................................................................................................... 17
6.3. The Interdict: ............................................................................................................................ 17
6.4. Mandamus: ............................................................................................................................... 17
6.5. The Exclusionary Rule: ............................................................................................................. 18
6.6. Informal Remedies: .................................................................................................................. 18
6.7. Constitutional Mechanisms: .................................................................................................... 18
SUBJECT 2 - THE COURTS AND PROSECUTING AUTHORITY: ................................................................. 19
Page 1 of 68
, KYLIE VAN DER MERWE - NOTES
1. THE SUPERIOR COURTS: ................................................................................................................... 21
1.1. The Constitutional Court (‘CC’): ............................................................................................... 21
1.2. The Supreme Court of Appeal (‘SCA’): ..................................................................................... 22
1.3. The High Court of South Africa: ............................................................................................... 24
1.4. Circuit Courts of a Division: ...................................................................................................... 25
2. LOWER COURTS: ............................................................................................................................... 25
2.1. Magistrate’s Courts: ................................................................................................................. 25
2.2. Other Lower Courts: ................................................................................................................. 26
3. JURISDICTION OF CRIMINAL COURTS: ............................................................................................. 26
3.1. Jurisdiction in respect of Offences:.......................................................................................... 26
3.2. Jurisdiction and Extended Jurisdiction in respect of Offences Committed on South African
Territory: ............................................................................................................................................... 27
3.3. Jurisdiction in respect of Offences Committed Outside South Africa: ................................... 30
3.4. Jurisdiction with Regard to Sentencing: .................................................................................. 32
3.5. Jurisdiction to Pronounce Upon the Validity of Laws or The Conduct of The President: ...... 33
4. CONSTITUTION OF AND THE MANNER OF ARRIVING AT DECISIONS BY THE TRIAL COURTS........ 34
4.1. Lower Courts (when assessors will be appointed in lower courts): ....................................... 34
4.2. Division of the HC (when assessors will be appointed in HC) (S v Mokalaka): ...................... 34
4.3. Recusal of judicial officer: ........................................................................................................ 35
5. IMPARTIALITY & FAIRNESS: ............................................................................................................. 37
1. CRIMINAL PRESECUTIONS & CIVIL ACTIONS: .................................................................................. 41
2. PUBLIC PRESECUTIONS:.................................................................................................................... 42
SUBJECT 3 - PRE-TRIAL PROCEDURES FOR CHILDREN: .......................................................................... 54
1. OBJECTS & GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF THE CJA: ................................................................................ 56
2. APPLICATION OF THE CJA (3 CAT): ................................................................................................... 58
3. CRIMINAL CAPACITY: ....................................................................................................................... 58
4. A CHILD BELOW THE AGE OF 10 YEARS: .......................................................................................... 59
5. A CHILD ABOVE THE AGE OF 10 BUT BELOW THE AGE OF 18 YEARS (SUBJ 4): .............................. 60
6. ASSESSMENT OF CHILD – CH 5: ........................................................................................................ 61
7. DIVERSION BY THE PROSECUTOR IRO MINOR OFFENCES – CH 6: .................................................. 63
8. PRELIMINARY ENQUIRY – CH 7: ....................................................................................................... 65
Page 2 of 68
, KYLIE VAN DER MERWE - NOTES
SUBJECT 1 – INTRODUCTION:
1.1 General introduction to the course.
1.2 The place of criminal procedure in the South African legal system.
1.3 Overview of the Bill of Rights.
1.4 Sources of the South African criminal procedure.
1.5 Different phases in the criminal procedure.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
✓ Explain the place and function of criminal procedure within the SA
criminal justice system.
✓ Explain the internal tension underlying a fair system of criminal
procedure.
✓ Indicate the position of the victim of crime in the criminal procedure
system with regard to victim participation and protection.
✓ Provide an overview of sections discussed in the Bill of Rights.
✓ Distinguish between the characteristics of accusatorial and inquisitorial
systems and indicate where the South African criminal system finds itself.
✓ Name the sources of criminal procedure.
✓ Name and briefly describe the seven remedies available in the case of the
infractions or threatened infractions of fundamental rights.
✓ Name the different phases in the criminal process.
SELF-EVALUATION QUESTIONS:
✓ Explain, by using examples, how a balance is achieved in criminal
procedure between the interest of the community and the individual’s
right to privacy and freedom.
✓ Briefly explain the effect of the Constitution on criminal procedure since
1994. Give examples.
Page 3 of 68
, KYLIE VAN DER MERWE - NOTES
1. INTRODUCTION:
2.1. Criminal Procedure: Distinction Btwn Substantive & Adjectival Law:
SUBSTANTIVE LAW ADJECTIVAL (FORMAL) LAW
✓ Comprises legal rules determining the rights ✓ Measures are necessary to enforce the rules
and duties of individuals and the state; and of substantive criminal law. These measures
both private law and public law are part of are provided by adjectival law.
substantive law. ✓ Adjectival law puts substantive criminal law
✓ Substantive criminal law, for instance, into action.
determines the prerequisites for criminal ✓ The rules of criminal procedure form that
liability (like unlawfulness, fault) and part of adjectival law which assists in making
prescribes the elements of various specific substantive criminal law dynamic.
crimes (like theft, fraud or murder). ✓ The law of evidence—which is also a part of
✓ It also attaches a sanction to breach of its adjectival law—operates in tandem with
prohibitions. But the mere threat of criminal criminal procedural rules in ensuring that
sanctions would serve little purpose. criminal law is not static.
✓ It must be appreciated that criminal
procedural rules—although identifiable as
adjectival law—do not, may not and cannot
operate in isolation from common-law and
constitutional rights such as the right to life,
human dignity, privacy, bodily integrity, etc.
2.2. Criminal Procedure:
I. Scope & Content:
❖ Criminal procedure regulates, inter alia, the duties and powers of the criminal
courts and prosecutorial authority; the duties and powers of the police, especially
in the course of the investigation of a crime; the rights of suspects and arrested
and accused persons; pre-trial procedural matters; bail, charge sheets (in the
lower courts) and indictments (in the superior courts); pleading; the course of the
criminal trial, and especially the trial rights and duties of the prosecution (the
State) and the defence; verdict; sentencing; post-trial remedies (such as appeal or
review) and executive action (e.g. mercy, indemnification and free pardon).
❖ Criminal procedure must also accommodate and protect the rights and interests
of victims
Page 4 of 68
SPR 411 - CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
Contents
SUBJECT 1 – INTRODUCTION: ............................................................................................................... 3
1. INTRODUCTION: ..................................................................................................................................4
2.1. Criminal Procedure: Distinction Btwn Substantive & Adjectival Law: ......................................4
2.2. Criminal Procedure:.....................................................................................................................4
2. CRIME CONTROL & DUE PROCESS: .....................................................................................................5
2.1. The Need to Balance Values: ......................................................................................................5
2.2. The Internal Tensions: .................................................................................................................6
2.3. Due Process (Legality, The Rule of Law) And the Need to Limit State Power:..........................7
2.4. The Position of The Victim in The Criminal Process: ..................................................................8
3. CONSTITUTIONAL CRIMINAL PROCEDURE: ..................................................................................... 10
3.1. Introductory Remarks: ............................................................................................................. 10
3.2. A Survey of The Contents of The Bill of Rights: ....................................................................... 11
3.3. Section 35 Of the Constitution:................................................................................................ 12
3.4. The Presumption of Innocence: ............................................................................................... 12
4. ACCUSATORIAL AND INQUISITORIAL PROCEDURES: (be able to draw a distinction between
accusatorial and inquisitorial systems): .................................................................................................. 13
5. SOURCES OF SOUTH AFRICAN CRIMINAL PROCEDURE: ................................................................. 14
5.1. Constitutional Provisions: ........................................................................................................ 14
5.2. The Criminal Procedure Act 51 Of 1997 (‘The Act’):................................................................ 14
5.3. Legislation Other Than the Act: ............................................................................................... 14
5.4. Common Law Rules and Case Law: .......................................................................................... 15
6. REMEDIES (be able to list and define the 7 possible remedies for infractions or threatened
infractions of fundamental rights):.......................................................................................................... 16
6.1. The Writ Of Habeas Corpus (Interdictum De Libero Homine Exhibendo): ............................. 16
6.2. A Civil Action for Damages: ...................................................................................................... 17
6.3. The Interdict: ............................................................................................................................ 17
6.4. Mandamus: ............................................................................................................................... 17
6.5. The Exclusionary Rule: ............................................................................................................. 18
6.6. Informal Remedies: .................................................................................................................. 18
6.7. Constitutional Mechanisms: .................................................................................................... 18
SUBJECT 2 - THE COURTS AND PROSECUTING AUTHORITY: ................................................................. 19
Page 1 of 68
, KYLIE VAN DER MERWE - NOTES
1. THE SUPERIOR COURTS: ................................................................................................................... 21
1.1. The Constitutional Court (‘CC’): ............................................................................................... 21
1.2. The Supreme Court of Appeal (‘SCA’): ..................................................................................... 22
1.3. The High Court of South Africa: ............................................................................................... 24
1.4. Circuit Courts of a Division: ...................................................................................................... 25
2. LOWER COURTS: ............................................................................................................................... 25
2.1. Magistrate’s Courts: ................................................................................................................. 25
2.2. Other Lower Courts: ................................................................................................................. 26
3. JURISDICTION OF CRIMINAL COURTS: ............................................................................................. 26
3.1. Jurisdiction in respect of Offences:.......................................................................................... 26
3.2. Jurisdiction and Extended Jurisdiction in respect of Offences Committed on South African
Territory: ............................................................................................................................................... 27
3.3. Jurisdiction in respect of Offences Committed Outside South Africa: ................................... 30
3.4. Jurisdiction with Regard to Sentencing: .................................................................................. 32
3.5. Jurisdiction to Pronounce Upon the Validity of Laws or The Conduct of The President: ...... 33
4. CONSTITUTION OF AND THE MANNER OF ARRIVING AT DECISIONS BY THE TRIAL COURTS........ 34
4.1. Lower Courts (when assessors will be appointed in lower courts): ....................................... 34
4.2. Division of the HC (when assessors will be appointed in HC) (S v Mokalaka): ...................... 34
4.3. Recusal of judicial officer: ........................................................................................................ 35
5. IMPARTIALITY & FAIRNESS: ............................................................................................................. 37
1. CRIMINAL PRESECUTIONS & CIVIL ACTIONS: .................................................................................. 41
2. PUBLIC PRESECUTIONS:.................................................................................................................... 42
SUBJECT 3 - PRE-TRIAL PROCEDURES FOR CHILDREN: .......................................................................... 54
1. OBJECTS & GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF THE CJA: ................................................................................ 56
2. APPLICATION OF THE CJA (3 CAT): ................................................................................................... 58
3. CRIMINAL CAPACITY: ....................................................................................................................... 58
4. A CHILD BELOW THE AGE OF 10 YEARS: .......................................................................................... 59
5. A CHILD ABOVE THE AGE OF 10 BUT BELOW THE AGE OF 18 YEARS (SUBJ 4): .............................. 60
6. ASSESSMENT OF CHILD – CH 5: ........................................................................................................ 61
7. DIVERSION BY THE PROSECUTOR IRO MINOR OFFENCES – CH 6: .................................................. 63
8. PRELIMINARY ENQUIRY – CH 7: ....................................................................................................... 65
Page 2 of 68
, KYLIE VAN DER MERWE - NOTES
SUBJECT 1 – INTRODUCTION:
1.1 General introduction to the course.
1.2 The place of criminal procedure in the South African legal system.
1.3 Overview of the Bill of Rights.
1.4 Sources of the South African criminal procedure.
1.5 Different phases in the criminal procedure.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
✓ Explain the place and function of criminal procedure within the SA
criminal justice system.
✓ Explain the internal tension underlying a fair system of criminal
procedure.
✓ Indicate the position of the victim of crime in the criminal procedure
system with regard to victim participation and protection.
✓ Provide an overview of sections discussed in the Bill of Rights.
✓ Distinguish between the characteristics of accusatorial and inquisitorial
systems and indicate where the South African criminal system finds itself.
✓ Name the sources of criminal procedure.
✓ Name and briefly describe the seven remedies available in the case of the
infractions or threatened infractions of fundamental rights.
✓ Name the different phases in the criminal process.
SELF-EVALUATION QUESTIONS:
✓ Explain, by using examples, how a balance is achieved in criminal
procedure between the interest of the community and the individual’s
right to privacy and freedom.
✓ Briefly explain the effect of the Constitution on criminal procedure since
1994. Give examples.
Page 3 of 68
, KYLIE VAN DER MERWE - NOTES
1. INTRODUCTION:
2.1. Criminal Procedure: Distinction Btwn Substantive & Adjectival Law:
SUBSTANTIVE LAW ADJECTIVAL (FORMAL) LAW
✓ Comprises legal rules determining the rights ✓ Measures are necessary to enforce the rules
and duties of individuals and the state; and of substantive criminal law. These measures
both private law and public law are part of are provided by adjectival law.
substantive law. ✓ Adjectival law puts substantive criminal law
✓ Substantive criminal law, for instance, into action.
determines the prerequisites for criminal ✓ The rules of criminal procedure form that
liability (like unlawfulness, fault) and part of adjectival law which assists in making
prescribes the elements of various specific substantive criminal law dynamic.
crimes (like theft, fraud or murder). ✓ The law of evidence—which is also a part of
✓ It also attaches a sanction to breach of its adjectival law—operates in tandem with
prohibitions. But the mere threat of criminal criminal procedural rules in ensuring that
sanctions would serve little purpose. criminal law is not static.
✓ It must be appreciated that criminal
procedural rules—although identifiable as
adjectival law—do not, may not and cannot
operate in isolation from common-law and
constitutional rights such as the right to life,
human dignity, privacy, bodily integrity, etc.
2.2. Criminal Procedure:
I. Scope & Content:
❖ Criminal procedure regulates, inter alia, the duties and powers of the criminal
courts and prosecutorial authority; the duties and powers of the police, especially
in the course of the investigation of a crime; the rights of suspects and arrested
and accused persons; pre-trial procedural matters; bail, charge sheets (in the
lower courts) and indictments (in the superior courts); pleading; the course of the
criminal trial, and especially the trial rights and duties of the prosecution (the
State) and the defence; verdict; sentencing; post-trial remedies (such as appeal or
review) and executive action (e.g. mercy, indemnification and free pardon).
❖ Criminal procedure must also accommodate and protect the rights and interests
of victims
Page 4 of 68
