NICOLA IRVING (2020)
SPR 400:
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
(SEMESTER TEST 2)
Nicola Irving
Page 1 of 175
, NICOLA IRVING (2020)
NICOLA IRVING©
SPR 400
_______________________
DISCLAIMER:
Please take note of the fact that these notes may not be comprehensive of the
material required to be covered for the module and contained in the prescribed
syllabus as reflected in the study guide. There may be errors; omissions or
shortcomings, accordingly, use these notes at your own discretion.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF SOURCES:
These notes were composed based on:
• Professor WP de Villiers and Dr Llewellyn Curlewis:
o Lecturers in the Department of Procedural Law, University of
Pretoria: SPR 400 (Criminal procedure law) 2020.
o Slides, class notes and tutorials.
• The Criminal Procedure 400 (SPR 400) Study Guide (2020) University
of Pretoria.
• Kemp, Swanepoel, Terblanche, Van der Merwe, Ally & Mokoena
Criminal Procedure Handbook (2020) 13th ed JUTA.
PLEASE NOTE:
These notes shall not be shared without the express consent of the author
thereof.
Test 2:
• Professor de Villiers’ work:
o Subject 7: Bail and release on warning
▪ 15 marks
• Dr Curlewis’ work:
o Study Unit 1: Alternative procedures to finalise a criminal case
o Study Unit 2: Indictments and charge sheets
o Study Unit 3: Pleas
▪ 10 marks
Page 2 of 175
, NICOLA IRVING (2020)
Table of Contents
Terminology: ....................................................................................................................................... 5
S 35: Arrested, detained and accused persons ......................................................................... 5
Scheduled offences: ......................................................................................................................... 7
Subject 7: Bail and release on warning (15 marks)................................................................. 13
7.1. What is bail? ...................................................................................................................... 14
7.2. Right to bail? ..................................................................................................................... 15
7.3. Requirements for release............................................................................................... 26
7.4. Exceptions ......................................................................................................................... 33
7.5. Onus of proof and other evidentiary matters ........................................................... 34
7.6. Duties of the accused ..................................................................................................... 34
7.7. Part of record .................................................................................................................... 35
7.8. Access to information..................................................................................................... 35
7.9. Release on warning ......................................................................................................... 35
7.10. Refusal of bail ............................................................................................................... 39
“Step-by-step bail applications” – Riaan du Plessis .......................................................... 40
Study Unit 1: Alternative procedures to finalise a criminal case ........................................ 52
Diversion: ....................................................................................................................................... 52
Know what is meant by the term ‘diversion’: ................................................................... 52
Know when diversion may be implemented: .................................................................... 52
Usual route of a diverted case: ............................................................................................ 73
Know the aims and purposes of diversion: ...................................................................... 74
Self-evaluation questions: ..................................................................................................... 75
S 105A of the CPA: Plea and sentence agreements ........................................................... 75
Know the difference between informal and formal plea negotiations: ...................... 75
Know the requirements for a S 105A agreement and distinguish between the five
different stages: ....................................................................................................................... 80
S 105A: Procedure in court ................................................................................................... 88
Know the difference between S 204 and S 105A: ............................................................ 90
Self-evaluation questions: ..................................................................................................... 91
Study Unit 2: Indictments and charge sheets .......................................................................... 91
General: .......................................................................................................................................... 91
Know the prosecutor’s discretion relating to the charge: ................................................ 99
Know the requirements for a valid charge sheet: ............................................................... 99
Know when further particulars should be provided by the State: ................................ 101
Objections against the charge before the accused pleads: ........................................... 103
Page 3 of 175
, NICOLA IRVING (2020)
Know when and how a defect in a charge sheet may be cured: ................................... 103
Know when the charge sheet may be amended: ............................................................... 104
Know how duplication of convictions work: ...................................................................... 105
Know the constitutional right with regard to the charge sheet: .................................... 110
Know the accused’s right of access to the police docket and its aim of pre-trial
discovery: .................................................................................................................................... 111
Know how the notification of the application of the prescribed minimum sentences
forms an essential part of the charge sheet: ...................................................................... 111
Know the term ‘joinder of offences of the accused’ and how it is implied: ............... 113
Joinder of several accused: .................................................................................................... 116
Self-evaluation questions: ................................................................................................... 117
Study Unit 3: Pleas .................................................................................................................... 118
Know the general aim of a plea: ............................................................................................. 118
Know the difference between a plea and a defence: ........................................................ 120
Know when separation of trials may be ordered: ............................................................. 120
Know the different pleas that may be tendered by the accused in terms of the CPA:
........................................................................................................................................................ 121
Know the applicable procedures when it appears that the accused is mentally
abnormal (S 77 & S 79 of the CPA): ...................................................................................... 162
Know the procedures applicable when the accused’s criminal responsibility might
be influenced by mental illness or mental defect during the commission of the crime
(S 78 & S 79 of the CPA): ......................................................................................................... 167
Know the effect of S 35(3)(m) of the Constitution: ............................................................ 169
Self-evaluation questions: ................................................................................................... 170
Page 4 of 175
SPR 400:
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
(SEMESTER TEST 2)
Nicola Irving
Page 1 of 175
, NICOLA IRVING (2020)
NICOLA IRVING©
SPR 400
_______________________
DISCLAIMER:
Please take note of the fact that these notes may not be comprehensive of the
material required to be covered for the module and contained in the prescribed
syllabus as reflected in the study guide. There may be errors; omissions or
shortcomings, accordingly, use these notes at your own discretion.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF SOURCES:
These notes were composed based on:
• Professor WP de Villiers and Dr Llewellyn Curlewis:
o Lecturers in the Department of Procedural Law, University of
Pretoria: SPR 400 (Criminal procedure law) 2020.
o Slides, class notes and tutorials.
• The Criminal Procedure 400 (SPR 400) Study Guide (2020) University
of Pretoria.
• Kemp, Swanepoel, Terblanche, Van der Merwe, Ally & Mokoena
Criminal Procedure Handbook (2020) 13th ed JUTA.
PLEASE NOTE:
These notes shall not be shared without the express consent of the author
thereof.
Test 2:
• Professor de Villiers’ work:
o Subject 7: Bail and release on warning
▪ 15 marks
• Dr Curlewis’ work:
o Study Unit 1: Alternative procedures to finalise a criminal case
o Study Unit 2: Indictments and charge sheets
o Study Unit 3: Pleas
▪ 10 marks
Page 2 of 175
, NICOLA IRVING (2020)
Table of Contents
Terminology: ....................................................................................................................................... 5
S 35: Arrested, detained and accused persons ......................................................................... 5
Scheduled offences: ......................................................................................................................... 7
Subject 7: Bail and release on warning (15 marks)................................................................. 13
7.1. What is bail? ...................................................................................................................... 14
7.2. Right to bail? ..................................................................................................................... 15
7.3. Requirements for release............................................................................................... 26
7.4. Exceptions ......................................................................................................................... 33
7.5. Onus of proof and other evidentiary matters ........................................................... 34
7.6. Duties of the accused ..................................................................................................... 34
7.7. Part of record .................................................................................................................... 35
7.8. Access to information..................................................................................................... 35
7.9. Release on warning ......................................................................................................... 35
7.10. Refusal of bail ............................................................................................................... 39
“Step-by-step bail applications” – Riaan du Plessis .......................................................... 40
Study Unit 1: Alternative procedures to finalise a criminal case ........................................ 52
Diversion: ....................................................................................................................................... 52
Know what is meant by the term ‘diversion’: ................................................................... 52
Know when diversion may be implemented: .................................................................... 52
Usual route of a diverted case: ............................................................................................ 73
Know the aims and purposes of diversion: ...................................................................... 74
Self-evaluation questions: ..................................................................................................... 75
S 105A of the CPA: Plea and sentence agreements ........................................................... 75
Know the difference between informal and formal plea negotiations: ...................... 75
Know the requirements for a S 105A agreement and distinguish between the five
different stages: ....................................................................................................................... 80
S 105A: Procedure in court ................................................................................................... 88
Know the difference between S 204 and S 105A: ............................................................ 90
Self-evaluation questions: ..................................................................................................... 91
Study Unit 2: Indictments and charge sheets .......................................................................... 91
General: .......................................................................................................................................... 91
Know the prosecutor’s discretion relating to the charge: ................................................ 99
Know the requirements for a valid charge sheet: ............................................................... 99
Know when further particulars should be provided by the State: ................................ 101
Objections against the charge before the accused pleads: ........................................... 103
Page 3 of 175
, NICOLA IRVING (2020)
Know when and how a defect in a charge sheet may be cured: ................................... 103
Know when the charge sheet may be amended: ............................................................... 104
Know how duplication of convictions work: ...................................................................... 105
Know the constitutional right with regard to the charge sheet: .................................... 110
Know the accused’s right of access to the police docket and its aim of pre-trial
discovery: .................................................................................................................................... 111
Know how the notification of the application of the prescribed minimum sentences
forms an essential part of the charge sheet: ...................................................................... 111
Know the term ‘joinder of offences of the accused’ and how it is implied: ............... 113
Joinder of several accused: .................................................................................................... 116
Self-evaluation questions: ................................................................................................... 117
Study Unit 3: Pleas .................................................................................................................... 118
Know the general aim of a plea: ............................................................................................. 118
Know the difference between a plea and a defence: ........................................................ 120
Know when separation of trials may be ordered: ............................................................. 120
Know the different pleas that may be tendered by the accused in terms of the CPA:
........................................................................................................................................................ 121
Know the applicable procedures when it appears that the accused is mentally
abnormal (S 77 & S 79 of the CPA): ...................................................................................... 162
Know the procedures applicable when the accused’s criminal responsibility might
be influenced by mental illness or mental defect during the commission of the crime
(S 78 & S 79 of the CPA): ......................................................................................................... 167
Know the effect of S 35(3)(m) of the Constitution: ............................................................ 169
Self-evaluation questions: ................................................................................................... 170
Page 4 of 175
