Search and seizure

Deursoeking en beslaglegging
STUDY SECTION 6.2
LEERGEDEELTE 6.2
Notice
Kennisgewing
• These slides do not replace the
prescribed study material.
• Hierdie skyfies vervang nie die
voorgeskrewe studiemateriaal
nie.
Relevant constitutional provisions
Relevante grondwetlike bepalings
• S 12: Freedom and security of the
person.
• S 14: Privacy.
• S 14 Includes right not to have
• Person or home searched;
• Property searched;
• Possessions seized.
• S 36: limitations clause.
• Art. 12: Vryheid en sekuriteit van die
persoon.
• Art. 14: Privaatheid.
• Art. 14 sluit in reg dat
• Persoon of woning nie deursoek word nie
• Eiendom nie deursoek word nie
• Daar nie op besittings beslag gele word
nie.
• Art. 36: Beperkingsklousule
Articles susceptible to seizure: s 20 CPA
Items vatbaar vir beslaglegging: a 20 SPW
1. Concerned/on reasonable 1. Betrokke by of op redelike
grounds believed to be gronde vermoed betrokke te
concerned in commission/ wees by pleging/vermeende
suspected commission of offence. pleging van misdryf.
2. May afford evidence of 2. Bewys kan strek van
commission/ suspected pleging/vermeende pleging van
commission of offence. misdryf.
3. Intended to be used/ on 3. Bestem is of op redelike gronde
reasonable grounds believed to vermoed word bestem te wees
be intended to be used in om by die pleging van misdryf
commission of offence. gebruik te word.
Search warrant:
Visenteringslasbrief:
• General rule: search warrant
required.
• Independent judicial officer
stands between citizen & law
enforcement official.
• Judicial officer has a discretion to
issue search warrant.
• Important safeguard to protect
individual rights: not a mere
formality.
• Algemene reël: visenteringslasbrief
vereis.
• Onafhanklike regterlike beampte
staan tussen burger en
wetstoepasser.
• Regterlike amptenaar het diskresie
om lasbrief uit te reik.
• Belangrike beskermingsmeganisme
vir individuele regte: nie ʼn blote
formaliteit nie
Search warrants – s 21 CPA/
Visenteringslasbriewe – a 21 SPW.
• Pre-trial: Issued by magistrate or
justice of the peace from information
on oath (usually affidavits) that there
are reasonable grounds for believing
that article in possession/under
control of person within area of
jurisdiction.
• At trial: Judge/magistrate presiding in
criminal proceedings if article
required as evidence & under control
of person or on premises
• Do not have to study s 25 warrants.
• Voor verhoor: uitgereik deur landdros of
vrederegter op grond van inligting onder
eed (gewoonlik beëdigde verklarings) dat
daar redelike gronde bestaan om te dink
dat voorwerp in besit of onder beheer
van persoon op of by perseel binne
regsgebied is.
• Tydens verhoor: Deur regter/landdros
wat voorsit as blyk dat voorwerp in besit
of onder beheer van persoon binne
regsgebied is en as getuienis nodig is.
• Hoef nie art 25 lasbriewe te bestudeer
nie.
Validity requirements & interpretation of search warrants/
Geldigheidsvereistes en vertolking van deursoekingslasbriewe

• READ:
• Van der Merwe case (CC): intelligibility
principle.
• Consider especially the four safeguards;
requirements for a valid search warrant, and
guidelines for interpretation of search
warrant
• Polonyfis case (SCA)
• 4 grounds upon which validity of warrant
was attacked & how court dealt with each
one:
• See further notes in study guide on
warrants.
• LEES:
• Van der Merwe-saak (KH):
verstaanbaarheidsbeginsel
• Oorweeg veral die vier
beskermingsmaatreëls; vereistes vir geldige
lasbrief en riglyne vir vertolking van
deursoekingslasbrief.
• Polonyfis-saak (HHA):
• 4 gronde waarop geldigheid van lasbrief
aangeveg is en hoe hof met elkeen gehandel
het
• Sien verdere aantekeninge in studiegids oor
lasbriewe.
Information requirement: s 21(4) CPA.
Inligtingsvereiste: art. 21(4) SPW
• Persons whose rights affected by
search not entitled to be informed
that application for warrant will be
made (may defeat the purpose of
search).
• Upon execution of warrant, person
whose rights are effected must be
given copy of warrant upon request.
• Also entitled to copy of affidavit
which formed the basis of the
application for the warrant.
• Persone wat se regte deur lasbrief
geraak word, nie daarop geregtig om
kennis te ontvang dat aansoek om
lasbrief gedoen sal word nie (mag
doel van deursoeking verydel)
• Na uitvoering van lasbrief, is persoon
wat se regte geraak word geregtig op
afskrif van lasbrief, indien versoek.
• Ook geregtig op afskrif van beëdigde
verklaring wat grondslag van die
aansoek om die lasbrief was.
Warrantless search: s 22 CPA
Deursoeking sonder lasbrief: art. 22 SPW
1. If police officer believes on reasonable
grounds that
• Search warrant will be issued if it was to
be applied for AND
• Delay in obtaining search warrant would
defeat object of the search
2. If the person concerned consents to
search.
If warrant could have been obtained-search
unlawful.
1. Indien polisiebeampte op redelike
gronde dink dat
• Lasbrief aan hom uitgereik sou word as
hy aansoek sou doen EN
• Die vertraging deur lasbrief te verkry
die doel van die deursoeking sal verydel
2. Indien die betrokke persoon toestem.
Indien lasbrief bekom kon word-
deursoeking ongregmatig.
Disposal of seized items
Beskikking oor inbelaggenome voorwerpe
31 CPA/SPW 32 CPA/SPW
30 CPA/SPW No criminal proceedings If admission of guilt fine
After seizure instituted paid.
Na beslaglegging Geen strafverrigtinge As skulderkenningsboete
ingestel nie betaal word.

35 CPA/SPW Prevention of Organised

34 CPA/SPW
Forfeiture to State Crime Act
Beskikking by verhoor
Verbeurdverklaring aan Wet op die Voorkoming van
Disposal at trial Georganiseerde Misdaad
Staat
Consequences of unlawful search & seizure/
Gevolge van wederregtelike deursoeking & beslaglegging
• Possible exclusion of evidence
obtained: S 35(5) Constitution.
• Civil action for damages.
• Application for return of property
(mandament van spolie) READ
Ncqumkuba case (CC).
• Courts may order “preservation” of
evidence apparently obtained
unlawfully: trial court to decide
admissibility.
• Possible criminal liability (s 28 CPA).
• Moontlike uitsluiting van getuienis
wat bekom is: a 35(5) GW.
• Siviele aksie vir skadevergoeding.
• Aansoek om teruggawe van eiendom
(manadament van spolie) LEES
Ncqumkuba-saak (KH).
• Hof kan “bewaring” van getuienis
bevel: verhoorhof om oor
toelaatbaarheid te beslis.
• Moontlike strafregtelike
aanspreeklikheid (a28 SPW).