PBL 420
Study Unit 4-6 Summaries
Key
Examples
Legislation
Case law
Contents
Study Unit 4: Crimes against Bodily Integrity & Parental Authority ....................................................... 1
4.1 Criminal law (Sexual Offences and related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007................. 1
4.2 Punishment ............................................................................................................................. 1
4.3 Assault ..................................................................................................................................... 2
4.3.1 Definition, charge sheet & origin .................................................................................... 2
4.3.2 Conduct: Impairing another’s body integrity .................................................................. 3
4.3.3 Intention.......................................................................................................................... 5
4.3.4 Unlawfulness ................................................................................................................... 6
4.3.5 Violence........................................................................................................................... 7
4.3.6 Assault by means of a threat .......................................................................................... 8
4.3.7 Poison/Alcohol/Drugs ..................................................................................................... 9
4.3.8 Qualifications of assault ................................................................................................ 10
4.3.9 Forms of assault ............................................................................................................ 13
4.3.10 Prescription ................................................................................................................... 26
4.4 Rape ...................................................................................................................................... 27
4.4.1 Charge sheet ................................................................................................................. 27
4.4.2 Definition & legal interests ........................................................................................... 27
4.4.3 Compelled rape ............................................................................................................. 30
4.4.4 Attempted rape............................................................................................................. 31
4.4.5 Woman.......................................................................................................................... 31
4.4.6 Intra-Marital .................................................................................................................. 32
4.4.7 Sexual Intercourse......................................................................................................... 32
4.4.8 Without Consent .......................................................................................................... 39
1
, 4.5 Kidnapping ............................................................................................................................ 51
4.5.1 Legal Interest................................................................................................................. 51
4.5.2 Definition....................................................................................................................... 51
4.5.3 Person or Child .............................................................................................................. 52
4.5.6 Deprivation.................................................................................................................... 53
4.5.7 Consent ......................................................................................................................... 55
4.6 Abduction .............................................................................................................................. 56
4.6.1 Definition....................................................................................................................... 56
4.6.2 Minor............................................................................................................................. 57
4.6.3 Taking ............................................................................................................................ 57
4.6.4 Control .......................................................................................................................... 58
4.6.5 Consent ......................................................................................................................... 60
4.6.6 Sexual Intercourse/Marriage ........................................................................................ 61
4.6.7 Intention........................................................................................................................ 62
Study Unit 5: Crimes against Reputation & Dignity .............................................................................. 62
5.1 Crimen Injuria........................................................................................................................ 62
5.1.1 Definition....................................................................................................................... 62
5.1.2 Dignitas ......................................................................................................................... 63
5.1.3 Awareness ..................................................................................................................... 67
5.1.4 Attempt ......................................................................................................................... 67
5.1.5 Serious Impairment....................................................................................................... 67
5.1.6 Manner of Impairment ................................................................................................. 68
5.2 Defamation ........................................................................................................................... 70
5.2.1 Definition....................................................................................................................... 70
5.2.2 Intention........................................................................................................................ 72
5.2.3 Justifications.................................................................................................................. 72
5.2.4 Publication to Others .................................................................................................... 73
5.2.5 Fama .............................................................................................................................. 74
5.2.6 Serious Impairment....................................................................................................... 74
5.2.7 Section 16 Constitution ................................................................................................. 75
Study Unit 6: Crimes against Property & Freedom of Will ................................................................... 75
6.1 Malicious Injury to Property ................................................................................................. 75
6.1.1 Definition / Charge sheet .............................................................................................. 75
6.1.2 Intention........................................................................................................................ 76
6.1.3 Causing .......................................................................................................................... 77
6.1.4 Injury ............................................................................................................................. 77
2
, 6.1.5 Property ........................................................................................................................ 78
6.2 Arson ..................................................................................................................................... 80
6.2.1 Definition / Charge sheet .............................................................................................. 80
6.2.2 Immovable Property ..................................................................................................... 80
6.2.3 Other ............................................................................................................................. 81
6.2.4 Causing by Fire .............................................................................................................. 82
6.3 Theft ...................................................................................................................................... 82
6.2.1 Definition/charge sheet ................................................................................................. 82
6.2.2 Unusual aspects of crime .............................................................................................. 83
6.2.3 Forms............................................................................................................................. 84
6.2.4 Models of description of theft ....................................................................................... 90
6.2.5 Removal ......................................................................................................................... 91
6.2.6 Shop Theft ..................................................................................................................... 93
6.2.7 Innocent Reception ....................................................................................................... 96
6.2.8 Thing .............................................................................................................................. 96
6.2.9 Money and Trust Funds ................................................................................................. 99
6.2.10 Joint Owners ................................................................................................................ 101
6.2.11 Without Consent ......................................................................................................... 101
6.2.12 Intention to Steal ......................................................................................................... 102
6.2.13 Continuing Crime ......................................................................................................... 105
6.2.14 Unauthorised Borrowing ............................................................................................. 107
6.2.15 Stock Theft................................................................................................................... 108
6.2.16 Sentence...................................................................................................................... 110
6.2.17 Influence of Cybercrimes Act 19 of 2020 .................................................................... 110
6.2.18 Practical examples ....................................................................................................... 111
3
, Study Unit 4: Crimes against Bodily Integrity & Parental Authority
4.1 Criminal law (Sexual Offences and related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007
• Act came into effect on 16 December 2007
• Repealed:
o Common-law rape → replaced it with statutory offence of rape
▪ Applicable to all forms of penetration without consent irrespective of
perpetrator/victim’s gender
o Common law crime of indecent assault → replaced it with sexual assault which is
applicable to all forms of sexual violation without consent
o Other common law crimes concerning sexual assaults: Bestiality, incest, intercourse
with corpse
o NB Act does not apply retrospectively ∴ matters that occurred before the Act came
into operation will have to be dealt with on the basis of the common law position
• Also created new sexual offences
• Take note: Act does not penalise the intentional/negligent infection of another person with
HIV
o (as we learnt prev in study unit 1) If X knows he is HIV positive, rapes Y + his act
becomes known while Y is still alive → guilty of attempted murder
o If becomes known after Y already died + it is clear HIV was the cause of Y’s death →
guilty of murder
4.2 Punishment
• Take note: There is no provisions in the sections setting out the maximum offence for each
crime (It is customary for the legislature to insert this)
Section 55: Attempt, conspiracy, incitement or inducing another person to commit sexual offence
Any person who—
(a) attempts;
(b) conspires with any other person; or
(c) aids, abets, induces, incites, instigates, instructs, commands, counsels or procures another
person,
to commit a sexual offence in terms of this Act, is guilty of an offence and may be liable on conviction to
the punishment to which a person convicted of actually committing that offence would be liable
1
Study Unit 4-6 Summaries
Key
Examples
Legislation
Case law
Contents
Study Unit 4: Crimes against Bodily Integrity & Parental Authority ....................................................... 1
4.1 Criminal law (Sexual Offences and related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007................. 1
4.2 Punishment ............................................................................................................................. 1
4.3 Assault ..................................................................................................................................... 2
4.3.1 Definition, charge sheet & origin .................................................................................... 2
4.3.2 Conduct: Impairing another’s body integrity .................................................................. 3
4.3.3 Intention.......................................................................................................................... 5
4.3.4 Unlawfulness ................................................................................................................... 6
4.3.5 Violence........................................................................................................................... 7
4.3.6 Assault by means of a threat .......................................................................................... 8
4.3.7 Poison/Alcohol/Drugs ..................................................................................................... 9
4.3.8 Qualifications of assault ................................................................................................ 10
4.3.9 Forms of assault ............................................................................................................ 13
4.3.10 Prescription ................................................................................................................... 26
4.4 Rape ...................................................................................................................................... 27
4.4.1 Charge sheet ................................................................................................................. 27
4.4.2 Definition & legal interests ........................................................................................... 27
4.4.3 Compelled rape ............................................................................................................. 30
4.4.4 Attempted rape............................................................................................................. 31
4.4.5 Woman.......................................................................................................................... 31
4.4.6 Intra-Marital .................................................................................................................. 32
4.4.7 Sexual Intercourse......................................................................................................... 32
4.4.8 Without Consent .......................................................................................................... 39
1
, 4.5 Kidnapping ............................................................................................................................ 51
4.5.1 Legal Interest................................................................................................................. 51
4.5.2 Definition....................................................................................................................... 51
4.5.3 Person or Child .............................................................................................................. 52
4.5.6 Deprivation.................................................................................................................... 53
4.5.7 Consent ......................................................................................................................... 55
4.6 Abduction .............................................................................................................................. 56
4.6.1 Definition....................................................................................................................... 56
4.6.2 Minor............................................................................................................................. 57
4.6.3 Taking ............................................................................................................................ 57
4.6.4 Control .......................................................................................................................... 58
4.6.5 Consent ......................................................................................................................... 60
4.6.6 Sexual Intercourse/Marriage ........................................................................................ 61
4.6.7 Intention........................................................................................................................ 62
Study Unit 5: Crimes against Reputation & Dignity .............................................................................. 62
5.1 Crimen Injuria........................................................................................................................ 62
5.1.1 Definition....................................................................................................................... 62
5.1.2 Dignitas ......................................................................................................................... 63
5.1.3 Awareness ..................................................................................................................... 67
5.1.4 Attempt ......................................................................................................................... 67
5.1.5 Serious Impairment....................................................................................................... 67
5.1.6 Manner of Impairment ................................................................................................. 68
5.2 Defamation ........................................................................................................................... 70
5.2.1 Definition....................................................................................................................... 70
5.2.2 Intention........................................................................................................................ 72
5.2.3 Justifications.................................................................................................................. 72
5.2.4 Publication to Others .................................................................................................... 73
5.2.5 Fama .............................................................................................................................. 74
5.2.6 Serious Impairment....................................................................................................... 74
5.2.7 Section 16 Constitution ................................................................................................. 75
Study Unit 6: Crimes against Property & Freedom of Will ................................................................... 75
6.1 Malicious Injury to Property ................................................................................................. 75
6.1.1 Definition / Charge sheet .............................................................................................. 75
6.1.2 Intention........................................................................................................................ 76
6.1.3 Causing .......................................................................................................................... 77
6.1.4 Injury ............................................................................................................................. 77
2
, 6.1.5 Property ........................................................................................................................ 78
6.2 Arson ..................................................................................................................................... 80
6.2.1 Definition / Charge sheet .............................................................................................. 80
6.2.2 Immovable Property ..................................................................................................... 80
6.2.3 Other ............................................................................................................................. 81
6.2.4 Causing by Fire .............................................................................................................. 82
6.3 Theft ...................................................................................................................................... 82
6.2.1 Definition/charge sheet ................................................................................................. 82
6.2.2 Unusual aspects of crime .............................................................................................. 83
6.2.3 Forms............................................................................................................................. 84
6.2.4 Models of description of theft ....................................................................................... 90
6.2.5 Removal ......................................................................................................................... 91
6.2.6 Shop Theft ..................................................................................................................... 93
6.2.7 Innocent Reception ....................................................................................................... 96
6.2.8 Thing .............................................................................................................................. 96
6.2.9 Money and Trust Funds ................................................................................................. 99
6.2.10 Joint Owners ................................................................................................................ 101
6.2.11 Without Consent ......................................................................................................... 101
6.2.12 Intention to Steal ......................................................................................................... 102
6.2.13 Continuing Crime ......................................................................................................... 105
6.2.14 Unauthorised Borrowing ............................................................................................. 107
6.2.15 Stock Theft................................................................................................................... 108
6.2.16 Sentence...................................................................................................................... 110
6.2.17 Influence of Cybercrimes Act 19 of 2020 .................................................................... 110
6.2.18 Practical examples ....................................................................................................... 111
3
, Study Unit 4: Crimes against Bodily Integrity & Parental Authority
4.1 Criminal law (Sexual Offences and related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007
• Act came into effect on 16 December 2007
• Repealed:
o Common-law rape → replaced it with statutory offence of rape
▪ Applicable to all forms of penetration without consent irrespective of
perpetrator/victim’s gender
o Common law crime of indecent assault → replaced it with sexual assault which is
applicable to all forms of sexual violation without consent
o Other common law crimes concerning sexual assaults: Bestiality, incest, intercourse
with corpse
o NB Act does not apply retrospectively ∴ matters that occurred before the Act came
into operation will have to be dealt with on the basis of the common law position
• Also created new sexual offences
• Take note: Act does not penalise the intentional/negligent infection of another person with
HIV
o (as we learnt prev in study unit 1) If X knows he is HIV positive, rapes Y + his act
becomes known while Y is still alive → guilty of attempted murder
o If becomes known after Y already died + it is clear HIV was the cause of Y’s death →
guilty of murder
4.2 Punishment
• Take note: There is no provisions in the sections setting out the maximum offence for each
crime (It is customary for the legislature to insert this)
Section 55: Attempt, conspiracy, incitement or inducing another person to commit sexual offence
Any person who—
(a) attempts;
(b) conspires with any other person; or
(c) aids, abets, induces, incites, instigates, instructs, commands, counsels or procures another
person,
to commit a sexual offence in terms of this Act, is guilty of an offence and may be liable on conviction to
the punishment to which a person convicted of actually committing that offence would be liable
1
