Criminal Defence Blog
Caught driving under the influence?
Don’t make your situation worse. Follow this advice. The President recently announced a lessening of the lockdown burden, from Alert Level 3 to Alert Level 1. Although the outright alcohol ban was lifted a few weeks ago, we were still … Continue reading
DENOSA VOWS TO LAY CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST TAINTED COMPANIES IN SIU’S PPE PROBE
On Friday the SIU revealed that more than R30 billion was spent by the state between April and November 2020, and over R13 billion has been deemed irregular. JOHANNESBURG – The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (Denosa) said it … Continue reading
Admission of guilt
Should you sign an admission of guilt if you are accused of a crime? If you have been arrested for a minor offence – such as shoplifting – and you have been detained in custody, the arresting officer may give … Continue reading
Cannabis Bill flawed by privacy and equality concerns
A Wits law student has studied the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill, which aims to respect the right to privacy of an adult to cultivate a prescribed quantity of cannabis plants, to possess a prescribed quantity of cannabis, and to … Continue reading
Man to be sentenced according to Children’s Act for sexual assault on girl, aged 5
A 20-YEAR-OLD man convicted of sexual assault after attempting to rape a five-year-old girl will be sentenced according to the Children’s Act. This ruling was made in the Eastern Cape High Court in Makhanda as Judge Motilal Rugunanan found the … Continue reading
Refused bail? Why?
Some of the grounds on which bail can be refused Arrest is a scary business. Even when someone does something they know to be illegal, they don’t expect to be arrested. Every criminal hopes to get away with the crime. … Continue reading
Ramaphosa appoints Judge Desai as Legal Services Ombudsman
Cape Town – Retired Western Cape High Court Judge Siraj Desai has been appointed Legal Services Ombudsman by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Desai will serve in the role for seven years with the mandate to advance and safeguard the legal profession … Continue reading
High Court dismisses Brendin Horner murder accused’s bail bid
Reprinted from The Sowetan, by Linda Kea Moreotsene – 2020-12-19 Sekwetja Mahlamba (L) had brought an application to overturn the decision by Magistrate Deon van Rooyen to deny him bail in October, to the high court. Image: ANTONIO MUCHAVE/ SOWETAN … Continue reading
No, a traffic official can’t confiscate your expired driving licence card
Reprinted from News24, by Janine Van der Post – 2020-12-21 Helpful advice from Wheels24. Photo: Arrive Alive A very concerning question popped up in my mailbox several times this week from various readers about expired driving licence cards being confiscated … Continue reading
Expungement of a criminal record – what is it?
Start fresh Anyone with a criminal record faces considerable obstacles in getting a job. This is the case even for minor offences, especially now that COVID-19 has hit the job market hard. However, if the conviction is 10 years old … Continue reading