Easterbrook Transport (Pty) Ltd v Commissioner of Police and Another (CIV/APN 58 of 95) [1995] LSCA 45 (3 March 1995)

C I V / A P N / 5 8 / 95 IN THE H I GH COURT OF L E S O T HO In the matter b e t w e e n: E A S T E R B R O OK T R A N S P O RT (PTY) LTD A P P E L L A NT AND THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE A T T O R N EY GENERAL 1ST RESPONDENT 2ND RESPONDENT R E A S O NS FOR RULING Delivered by the H o n o u r a b le Mr. Justice W. C. M. Maqutu on the 3rd of M a r c h, 1995. A ruling was given on this urgent a p p l i c a t i on on the 28th F e b r u a r y , . 1 9 9 5. I considered the a p p l i c a t i on p r e m a t u re having regard to the c i r c u m s t a n c es of the case. C o n s e q u e n t ly I postponed the matter to the 17th M a r c h, 1995 and extended the /. . . r u le n i si a c c o r d i n g l y. I a l so r e q u i r ed t he p o l i ce in t he m e a n t i me to s p e ed up t h e ir i n v e s t i g a t i o ns in o r d er t h at t h e ir p o s i t i on at t he t r i al m i g ht be a s s e s s ed r e g a r d i ng t he v e h i c l e s. At t he end of ten d a y s, if t h ey did n ot r e l e a se t he v e h i c l e s, t h ey s h o u ld g i ve r e a s o n s. -2- T h e se a re my r e a s o ns for r u l i n g. On t he 1 6 th F e b r u a r y, 1 9 95 A p p l i c a nt b r o u g ht an ex p a r te a p p l i c a t i on f or a Rule N i si c a l l i ng u p on R e s p o n d e n ts to s h ow c a u se w hy an o r d er s h o u ld not be m a de in t he f o l l o w i ng t e r m s: 1.1 T h at F i r st R e s p o n d e nt be a nd is h e r e by o r d e r ed f o r t h w i th to r e s t o re p o s s e s s i on to A p p l i c a nt or its a t t o r n ey t he f o l l o w i ng v e h i c l e s: A. O ne I n t e r n a t i o n al S L i ne M e c h a n i c al H o r se R e g i s t r a t i on N u m b er Y BX 3 4 2 6 7. B. A t r a i l er R e g i s t r a t i on N u m b er KNE 9 6 5 5. C. A F r e i g ht l i n er M e c h a n i c al H o r se R e g i s t r a t i on N u m b er Y BX 2 4 7 5 6. /. . . D. A T r a i l er R e g i s t r a t i on N u m b er 4 5 7 1 75 T h r ee e m p ty c o n t a i n e rs 2 six m e t r es 1 t w e l ve m e t r e. -3- 1.2 That F i r st R e s p o n d e nt be o r d e r ed to pay the c o s ts of this a p p l i c a t i o n. 1.3 T h at f u r t h er or a l t e r n a t i ve r e l i ef as the a b o ve H o n o u r a b le C o u rt d e e ms fit be g r a n t e d. 2. T h at the p r o v i s i o ns of p a r a g r a ph 1.1 s h a ll o p e r a te as an i n t e r im o r d e r, w i th i m m e d i a te e f f e ct p e n d i ng the f i n a l i s a t i on of this a p p l i c a t i o n. T he Rule Nisi w as g r a n t ed as p r a y e d. A p p l i c a n ts s e r v ed the P o l i ce and d e m a n d ed the r e l e a se of t he v e h i c l es f o r t h w i t h. T he p o l i ce d e m u r r ed and got the p r a y er 2 of Rule Nisi r e s c i n d e d. C o n s e q u e n t ly A p p l i c a n t 's v e h i c l es w e re no m o re to be r e l e a s ed f o r t h w i t h, B e f o re g o i ng into the m e r i ts of the a p p l i c a t i on i t s e l f, I h a ve to c o m m e nt u p on the t e n d e n cy to a b u se the C o u rt p r o c e d u re that h as b e en d i s p l a y ed by A p p l i c a nt and o t h e r s. Ex p a r te a p p l i c a t i o ns a re not m e a nt to o b t a in r e l i ef to the p r e j u d i ce of t he o t h er s i de w i t h o ut the o t h er s i de b e i ng h e a r d. T he a u di a f t e r am p a r t em r u le is a f u n d a m e n t al p r e c e pt in all c o u n t r i es w i th the R u le of L a w. -4- Legal p r a c t i t i o n e rs s h o u ld not take a d v a n t a ge of the fact that c o u r ts are o v e r - w o r k ed and put too m u ch t r u st in legal p r a c t i t i o n e rs that a p p e ar b e f o re them. C o u r ts h a ve to put t h e ir trust in legal p r a c t i t i o n e rs b e c a u se they are o f f i c e rs of the C o u r t. R u le 8 ( 2 2 ) ( c) of the High C o u rt Rules 1 9 80 d e a l i ng w i th all u r g e nt a p p l i c a t i o ns i n c l u d i ng ex p a r te o n es is e v i d e n ce that legal p r a c t i t i o n e rs s h a re the r e s p o n s i b i l i ty w i th the j u d ge in the g r a n t i ng of u r g e nt i n t e r im r e l i ef by s t a t i n g :- " E v e ry u r g e nt a p p l i c a t i on m u st be a c c o m p a n i ed by a c e r t i f i c a te of an a d v o c a te or a t t o r n ey w h i ch s e ts out that he c o n s i d e r ed the m a t t er and that he bona f i de b e l i e v es it to be a m a t t er for u r g e nt r e l i e f ." ft is t h e r e f o re u n d e r s t a n d a b le that C o u r ts ( r e l y i ng on legal p r a c t i t i o n e rs who a p p e ar b e f o re t h e m) s o m e t i m es do not s c r u t i n i se the i n t e r im o r d e rs that p r a c t i t i o n e rs seek as t h o r o u g h ly as they o u g ht t o. It is t h e r e f o re not s u r p r i s i ng that o n ce it w as b r o u g ht to the a t t e n t i on of the C o u rt by the R e s p o n d e n ts that the /... O r d er that had b e en g r a n t ed ex p a r te w as i r r e g u l ar h a v i ng r e g a rd to t he c i r c u m s t a n c es of the c a s e, the C o u rt c a n c e l l ed i t. -5- W h en A p p l i c a nt b r o u g ht an a p p l i c a t i on for c o n t e m pt of C o u r t, A p p l i c a nt f o u nd the o r d er w as c a n c e l l ed w i t h o ut n o t i ce to A p p l i c a n t, T he C o u rt w as e n t i t l ed to do this b e c a u se of t he n a t u re of t he p r e j u d i c i al ex p a r te o r d er it had m a de w i t h o ut h e a r i ng the o t h er s i d e. In so d o i ng the C o u rt r e l i ed on S e c t i on 59 of the H i gh C o u rt R u l es 1 9 80 w h i ch p r o v i d e s :- s h a ll " N o t w i t h s t a n d i ng a n y t h i ng c o n t a i n ed in t h e se R u l es the c o u rt it c o n s i d e rs it to be in the i n t e r e s ts of j u s t i c e, to c o n d o ne a ny p r o c e e d i n gs in w h i ch p r o v i s i o ns of t h e se r u l es a re not f o l l o w e d ." d i s c r e t i o n, a l w a ys h a ve the if W h at t he C o u rt did w as to level the p l a y i ng f i e l ds so that the p a r t i es c an be e v e n ly m a t t h e d. A p p l i c a nt got an ex p a r te o r d er to t he p r e j u d i ce of R e s p o n d e n ts and by the s a me t o k en ex p a r te R e s p o n d e n ts had it r e s c i n d e d. T he C o u rt r e s c i n d ed that ex p a r te o r d er b e c a u se it w as c o n t r a ry to the s p i r it of the R u l es and e v e r y t h i ng that the c o u r ts s t a nd f o r. L e g al p r a c t i t i o n e rs h a ve t i me and t i me a g a in b e en w a r n ed that t h ey s h o u ld not get o r d e rs w h i ch m i g ht p r e j u d i ce t he o t h er -6- s i de ex p a r t e. I n d e ed in C o n n ie M o k e te v S i m on M o k e te C I V / A P N / 4 8 7 / 93 ( u n r e p o r t e d ), t h is C o u rt s a id an u r g e nt a p p l i c a t i on d o es not h a ve to be b r o u g ht ex p a r t e. the o t h er p a r ty in the o t h er a p p l i c a t i on c o u ld s t i ll be s e r v e d, b ut the p e r i o ds of n o t i ce and dies i n d u c i ae s h o r t e n ed so t h at the m a t t er c an be h e a rd w i t h in a s h o rt t i m e. An i n t e r im o r d er is o n ly to be o b t a i n ed ex p a r te if g i v i ng n o t i ce m i g ht d e f e at t he p u r p o se of the a p p l i c a t i o n. In t h is c a se n o t h i ng m i g ht h a p p en to the A p p l i c a n t 's v e h i c l es if t he p o l i ce w e re g i v en n o t i c e. T he v i ew I t a ke a f t er r e a d i ng the p a p e rs is that A p p l i c a nt l e g i t i m a t e ly f e lt the m a t t er w as u r g e n t. N e v e r t h e l e ss in v i ew of t he i n t e r im o r d er that A p p l i c a nt w as s e e k i n g, R e s p o n d e n ts o u g ht to h a ve b e en s e r v ed w i th the n o t i ce of a p p l i c a t i o n, T he r e a s on b e i ng that the o r d er s o u g ht w as to the p r e j u d i ce of the R e s p o n d e n t s. I am f o r t i f i ed in my v i ew by the r e m a r ks of B e ck J. in R e p u b l ic M o t o rs v L y t t on R o ad S e r v i ce S t a t i on 1 9 7 1 ( 2) ,SA 516 at 5 18 F-H w h e re he s a i d: " T he p r o c e d u re of a p p r o a c h i ng the c o u rt ex p a r te for r e l i ef t h at a f f e c ts the r i g h ts of o t h er p e r s o ns is o ne w h i c h, in my o p i n i o n, is s o m e w h at l i g h t ly e m p l o y e d. A l t h o u gh the r e l i ef that is s o u g ht w h en t h is p r o c e d u re is it n e c e s s a r i ly i n v a d e s, for the t i me b e i n g, the f r e e d om of a c t i on of a p e r s on or p e r s o ns w ho h a ve n ot b e en t e m p o r a ry r e s o r t ed is o n ly n a t u r e. to in /. . . -7- a n e g a t i on a p r o c e d u re a nd it i s, to t h at e x t e nt of a h e a rd It is f u n d a m e n t al p r e c e pt of a u di a l t e r am p ar term. a c c o r d i n g ly s p a r i n g ly e m p l o y ed and c a r e f u l ly d i s c i p l i n ed by t he e x i s t e n ce of f a c t o rs of s u ch u r g e n c y, or w e l l - g r o u n d ed a p p r e h e n s i on of p e r v e r se c o n d u ct on t he p a rt of t he r e s p o n d e nt w ho if i n f o r m ed b e f o r e - h a n d . . . t he c o u r se of j u s t i ce is in c u r i a] d a n g er i n t e r v e n t i on c an be u n i l a t e r a l ly o b t a i n e d ." f r u s t r a t i on t e m p o r a ry u n l e ss s h o u ld t h at be of T h is c a v e at t o g e t h er w i th s a f e - g u a r ds t h at B e ck J. r e c o m m e n d ed a g a i n st t he a d v e r se e f f e c ts of ex p a r te a p p l i c a t i on w as a p p r o v ed by L e h o h la AJ (as he t h en w a s) in t he c a se of L. K H o b o Ko V . Khoboko a nd 2 O t h e rs C I V / A P N / 4 0 2 / 86 ( u n r e p o r t e d ). I n e ed o n ly add t h at in t h is c a se h ad t he v e h i c l es b e en r e l e a s ed to A p p l i c a n t, to be t a k en o u t s i de t he j u r i s d i c t i on of t h is C o u r t, t he c o n s e q u e n c es of t he O r d er m i g ht h a ve h ad a f i n al e f f e ct a l t h o u gh p h r a s ed in an i n t e r l o c u t o ry m a n n e r. I am t h e r e f o re n ot h a p py w i th t he m a n n er in w h i ch A p p l i c a n t 's a t t o r n ey p h r a s ed t h at p r a y er and l o st s i g ht of t he c o - r e s p o n s i b i l i ty he s h a r es w i th t he C o u rt in u r g e nt a p p l i c a t i o n s. I a s s o c i a te m y s e lf w i th t he c o m p l a i nt t h at C o e t z ee J m a de a g a i n st t he s t r a in ex p a r te a p p l i c a t i o ns p ut on t he c o u r t s. C o e t z ee J c o m p l a i n i ng a b o ut t he w ay l e g al p r a c t i t i o n e rs c a r ry on s a i d; " T h e se p r a c t i t i o n e rs f e el at l a r ge to s e l e ct a ny d ay /... of t he w e ek and a ny t i me of t he day (or n i g h t) to i n t o l e r a b l e , . , ." d e m a nd a h e a r i n g. V i de Z u na A n o t h er 1 9 7 7 ( 4) SA 1 35 at 1 3 6. T h is is q u i te v Persaardz'fera M a r k in M e u b el -8- N e v e r t h e l e ss C o u r ts a re o b l i g ed to h e lp c i t i z e n s, but t h ey s h o u l d, not be a l o ne in t h i s. C o e t z ee J t h en c o n t i n u e d: " T h e r e f o r e, p r a c t i t i o n e rs s h o u ld c a r e f u l ly a n a l y se the f a c ts of e a ch case, to d e t e r m i n e , . . . w h e t h er a g r e a t er or l e ss d e g r ee of r e l a x a t i on of t he R u l es and of the Luna o r d i n a ry p r a c t i ce of the c o u rt is r e q u i r e d ." M e u b el V e r s a a r d i g e r as v M a r k in & A n o t h er ( s u p r a) at 1 3 7 F. I n o te t h e re a re no a l l e g a t i o ns in A p p l i c a n t 's f o u n d i ng a f f i d a v it j u s t i f y i ng the r e l a x a t i on of " t he o r d i n a ry p r a c t i ce of t he c o u r t" r e q u i r i ng t he o b s e r v a n ce of a u di a l t e r am p a r t em p r i n c i p l e. O ne of the p r o b l e ms t h at h a ve b e en p r e s e nt in a p p l i c a t i o ns of t h is n a t u re for s o me t i me is t h at of f a i l u re to d i s t i n g u i sh b e t w e en the o f f i ce of A t t o r n e y - G e n e r al and t h at of t he D i r e c t or of P u b l ic P r o s e c u t i o n s, T he A t t o r n e y - G e n e r al r e p r e s e n ts G o v e r n m e nt in all c i v il p r o c e e d i n gs b r o u g ht a g a i n st G o v e r n m e n t. S ee t he G o v e r n m e nt P r o c e e d i n gs a nd C o n t r a ct Act of 1 9 6 5. He h as no f u n c t i on to p e r f o rm in c r i m i n al p r o s e c u t i o n s. T h at is t he f u n c t i on of t he D i r e c t or of P u b l ic P r o s e c u t i o n s. /. . . -9- W h en the p o l i ce h a ve c h a r g ed a s u s p e ct and h a n d ed o v er t h e ir f i le to the D i r e c t or of P u b l ic P r o s e c u t i o n s, their p r i m a ry and c u s t o d i al r o le w h i ch m o re f u l ly a p p e a rs in S e c t i o ns 51 and 55 of the C r i m i n al P r o c e d u re a nd E V i d e n ce Act of 1981 b e c o m es s e c o n d a ry and s u p p o r t i ve to the p r o s e c u t i on w h i ch is u n d er the D i r e c t or of P u b l ic P r o s e c u t i o n s. It s e e ms to me the p o w e rs of d e c i s i on on e x h i b i ts and who to b r i ng to t r i al p a ss on to the p r o s e c u t o rs and the D i r e c t or of P u b l ic P r o s e c u t i o n s. Part II of the C r i m i n al P r o c e d u re a nd E v i d e n ce Act of 1981 m a k es this a b u n d a n t ly c l e a r. It s e e ms to me that s i n ce A p p l i c a nt w a n ts the v e h i c l es that m i g ht be used as e x h i b i t s, he o u g ht to h a ve j o i n ed as a p a r ty the D i r e c t or of P u b l ic P r o s e c u t i o ns who now h as the p o w e rs of d e c i s i on now that A p p l i c a n t 's d r i v e rs h a ve b e en c h a r g ed w i th a c r i m i n al o f f e n c e. On this o c c a s i on I w i ll not m a ke an i s s ue of this b e c a u se the R e s p o n d e n ts did not r a i se t h is as an o b j e c t i o n. A p p l i c a n t 's d e p o n e nt D i no N a i d oo is a d i r e c t or of the A p p l i c a nt c o m p a n y. T h is c o m p a ny has o p e r a t i o ns b o th in L e s o t ho and the R e p u b l ic of S o u th A f r i c a. It is not c l e ar w h e t h er A p p l i c a nt is a t r a n s n a t i o n al c o m p a n y. In L e s o t ho A p p l i c a nt is k n o wn as E a s t e r b r o ok T r a n s p o rt /... -10- ( P t y) Ltd. and a c c o r d i ng to D i no n a i d oo A p p l i c a nt has an a s s o c i a te c o r p o r a t i o n, E a s t e r b r o ok T r a n s p o rt CC 416 A r c h a ry Road C l a i r w o od D u r b a n ", in the R e p u b l ic of South A f r i c a. I was advised that A p p l i c a n t 's d e p o n e nt Dino N a i d oo r e s i d es in D u r b an when I was asked by A p p l i c a n t 's a t t o r n ey to admit the faxed R e p l y i ng A f f i d a v it into the record of p r o c e e d i n g s. (This I did in v i ew of the u r g e n cy of the m a t t e r .) At p a r a g r a ph 4 of a p p l i c a n t 's founding a f f i d a v i t, it is a v e r r e d :- a p p l i c a nt " T he E a s t e r b r o ok o p e r a t or c o u n t r y w i de B o t s w a n a, S w a z i l a nd and L e s o t h o ," CC carry on b u s i n e ss its and a s s o c i a te c o r p o r a t i on of a t r a n s p o rt as in South A f r i ca as well On the 10th F e b r u a r y. a p p l i c a n t 's d e p o n e nt was approached by Gugic G o v e n d er by fax received at the d e p o n e n t 's D u r b an o f f i ce with a request to hire two 4 0' t r u c ks and t r a i l e rs w i th c o n t a i n e rs for a trip to M a s e ru for the c o n v e y a n ce of goods from M a s e ru to D u r b a n. It is not clear where the d e p o n e nt was at the t i m e. D e p o n e nt d i s p a t t h ed his two d r i v e rs with the t r u c k s, namely G e o r ge P, Hogg and Senzo M a p h u m o l o. T h e se two w e re to be later arrested and charged with h o u s e - b r e a k i ng and theft and now appear as accused number one and four in CR 139/9 5 in M a s e r u, L e s o t h o. The d e p o n e nt of A p p l i c a nt came to know of /. . . t h e ir a r r e st at 17 h o u rs on the 1 3 th F e b r u a r y, 1 9 9 5. W h en he g ot to M a s e ru on the 1 4 th F e b r u a r y, 1 9 95 he found that -11- " the d r i v e rs had b e en a r r e s t ed by m e m b e rs of the p o l i ce M a s e ru and the v e h i c l es and their c o n t a i n e rs ( h e r e i n a f t er c a l l ed " t he v e h i c l e s ") had b e en s e i z ed by the p o l i c e ," S ee p a r a g r a ph 7 of A p p l i c a n t 's f o u n d i ng a f f i d a v i t. A p p l i c a n t 's d e p o n e nt s a ys they " a s c e r t a i n ed f r om m e m b e rs of the L e s o t ho p o l i ce that b o th v e h i c l es had been s e i z ed and w e re b e i ng h e ld 'as e x h i b i t s' in the c a se a g a i n st the d r i v e r s ". T he v i ew that A p p l i c a nt has ( a d v i s ed by his a t t o r n e y) is t he t h at the v e h i c l es c o u ld n ot be p r o p e r ly be e x h i b i ts in the c a se a g a i n st the a c c u s ed t h e r e f o re the p o l i ce a re h o l d i ng t h em u n l a w f u l l y. On t he f a c ts on A p p l i c a n t 's own a f f i d a v it I h a ve p r o b l e ms w i th the s u b m i s s i on of A p p l i c a nt b e c a u se of S e c t i on 51 of the C r i m i n al P r o c e d u re a nd E v i d e n ce Act of 1981 w h i ch p r o v i d e s :- " On the a r r e st of any p e r s on on a c h a r ge of an o f f e n ce s p e c i f i ed in P a rt I of the F i r st S c h e d u l e, the p e r s on m a k i ng the a r r e st m ay s e i ze the v e h i c l e, r e c e p t a c le in p o s s e s s i on or c u s t o dy of the a r r e s t ed p e r s on at the t i me of t he a r r e st and u s ed in the c o n v e y a n ce of or c o n t a i n i ng any a r t i c le or s u b s t a n ce in c o n n e c t i on w i th w h i ch o f f e n ce b e en c o m m i t t e d ." to be or to h a ve is a l l e g ed -12- A m o ng t he o f f e n c es in w h i ch S c h e d u le I P a rt I a p p ly a re B r e a k i ng or E n t e r i ng a ny p r e m i s e s, w h e t h er u n d er c o m m on l aw or a s t a t u t o ry p r o v i s i on w i th i n t e nt to c o m m it an o f f e n c e. R o b b e r y. T h e ft w h e t h er u n d er c o m m on law or a s t a t u t o ry p r o v i s i o n. It s e e ms A p p l i c a n t 's a t t o r n ey in m a k i ng the d e m a n ds he m a de to the p o l i c e, a nd g i v i ng the a d v i ce he g a ve to A p p l i c a nt had n ot checked t he p r o v i s i o ns of t he law on t h is leg of the a p p l i c a t i o n. P a r a g r a ph of A p p l i c a n t 's a f f i d a v it is s u g g e s t i ng s p o l i a t i on b e c a u se p o s s e s s i on w as t h r o u gh the a r r e s t ed d r i v e rs " a c t i ng in t he c o u r se of t h e ir e m p l o y m e n t" and t he a l l e g ed f o r c i b le d i s p o s s e s s i on d o es n ot h e lp A p p l i c a n t. It m e r e ly j u s t i f i es t he a c t i on of t he p o l i ce t h at h a ve s e i z ed and h e ld t he s a id v e h i c l es in t e r ms of S e c t i on 51 of t he C r i m i n al P r o c e d u re a nd E v i d e n ce Act of 1 9 8 1. T h is s e c t i on g i v es t he p o l i ce the d i s c r e t i on to s e i ze s u ch a v e h i c le in m a k i ng an a r r e st in c i r c u m s t a n c es s u ch as t h e s e. It w as p r e c i s e ly b e c a u se of t he a f o r e g o i ng t h at I t o ok the v i ew t h at A p p l i c a nt a c t ed p r e m a t u r e ly and i l l - a d v i s e d ly in r u s h i ng to c o u r t. A l t h o u gh I do n ot a g r ee w i th the s u b m i s s i on t h at t he p o l i ce c an j u st h o ld t h is v e h i c le u n t il t he e nd of t r i al I am of the v i ew so f ar t he p o l i ce h a ve a c t ed p r o p e r l y. T he /. . . p o l i ce in my v i ew h a ve n ot y et f i n a l ly m a de up t h e ir m i nd to u se t h is v e h i c le as an e x h i b i t, a l t h o u gh s o me of t h em h a ve s a id t h e se v e h i c l es w i ll be u s ed as e x h i b i t s. -13- It is a m a t t er of g r e at c o n c e rn t h at t he R e s p o n d e n ts o n ly f i l ed t h e ir a n s w e r i ng a f f i d a v it on t he 2 8 th F e b r u a r y, 1 9 9 5. I f i nd t h is d e l ay u n a c c e p t a b le a nd at t he e nd of t h is a p p l i c a t i on I w i ll t a ke t h is i n to a c c o u nt w h en I a w a rd c o s t s. R e s p o n d e n ts d id n ot t r e at t h is m a t t er w i th t he e x p e d i t i on it c a l l ed f or h a v i ng r e g a rd to t he f a ct t h at t h is is an u r g e nt a p p l i c a t i o n. It is f or t h is v e ry r e a s on t h at I p ut t he C o m m i s s i o n er of P o l i ce ( t he F i r st R e s p o n d e n t) to t e r ms w h en I p o s t p o n ed t h is m a t t e r, M r. B u ys f or a p p l i c a nt s a id b e c a u se A p p l i c a n t 's d e p o n e nt D i no N a i d oo h ad n ot b e en a r r e s t e d, t h e re a re no g r o u n ds to s u s p e ct A p p l i c a nt is a s u s p e ct in t he c a se w h o se i n v e s t i g a t i on is c o n t i n u i n g. I am n ot s u re t h is is c o r r e c t, t he p o l i ce do n ot h a ve to a r r e st a p e r s on f or us to c o n c l u de t h at he is a s u s p e c t. M r. M o h a pi f or t he p o l i ce w o u ld n ot c o m m it t he p o l i ce on t he q u e s t i on of w h e t h er t he v e h i c l es w o u ld be d e f i n i t e ly u s ed as e x h i b i t s. A ll he w as c l e ar a b o ut w as t h at t h ey a re p o t e n t i al e x h i b i t s. No o ne c an d i s p u te t h i s. In a ny e v e nt A p p l i c a nt as -14- a c o m p a ny p o s s e s s es t h r o u gh i ts s e r v a n ts w i t h in t he s c o pe of t h e ir e m p l o y m e n t. T he two d r i v e rs on A p p l i c a n t 's o wn a v e r m e n ts at p a r a g r a ph 12 of i ts f o u n d i ng a f f i d a v it p o s s e s s ed t he v e h i c l es on b e h a lf of t he A p p l i c a n t. W h e t h er t he v e h i c l es w i ll be e x h i b i ts w i ll d e p e nd on t he i n v e s t i g a t i o n s. S i m i l a r ly t he f a ct t h at t he t wo d r i v e rs a re t he a c c u s ed d o es n ot m e an t h ey w i ll at t he e nd of t he i n v e s t i g a t i o ns s t a nd t r i a l. T he C r o wn m i g ht d r op c h a r g es a g a i n st t h em and. c h a r ge s o me o t h er p e o p le i n s t e a d. I m a de it c l e ar to M r. M o h a pi ( c o u n s el f or t he p o l i c e) d u r i ng a r g u m e nt t h at t he v i ew I h o ld is t he p o l i ce a re n ot e n t i t l ed to a ct u n r e a s o n a b ly on t he q u e s t i on w h e t h er t he v e h i c l es w i ll be u s ed as e v i d e n ce or n o t. S i m i l a r ly t he d e t e n t i on of t h e se v e h i c l es s h o u ld be w e l l - g r o u n d e d. It w o u ld be a m i s t a ke for the p o l i ce to c o n c l u de t h at t he v e h i c l es o u g ht to be k e pt u n t il t he end of t r i a l. It is w r o ng to c o n c l u de t h at a u t o m a t i c a l ly A p p l i c a nt w i ll h a ve to a p p ly f or t he r e l e a se of t he v e h i c l es in t e r ms of S e c t i on 5 7 ( 1) of t he C r i m i n al P r o c e d u re a nd E v i d e n ce P r o c l a m a t i on Act of 1 9 8 1. T he r e a s on b e i ng t h at t h is S e c t i on a p p l i es to v e h i c l es t h at m i g ht h a ve to be f o r f e i t ed b e c a u se of t h e ir i n v o l v e m e nt in t he p e r p e t r a t i on of t he c r i me w i th t he k n o w l e d ge a nd -15- p a r t i c i p a t i on of t h e ir o w n e r s. S ee G o l d b e rg v M i n i s t er of J u s t i ce & A n o t h er 1 9 5 2 ( 2) SA 1 78 w h e re it is s t a t ed c o n f i s c a t i on and f o r f e i t u re a re o n ly j u s t i f i ed if the o w n e rs a re in p a ri d e l i c to w i th the o f f e n d e r s. T he o w n e rs of s u ch v e h i c l es are g i v en a r i g ht to s h ow c a u se why t h e ir v e h i c le s h o u ld n ot be f o r f e i t e d. T h is m e a ns the C r o wn and the p o l i ce a re o b l i g ed to k e ep the v e h i c l es if t h ey h a ve g r o u n ds b a s ed on e v i d e n ce that the v e h i c l es m i g ht be the s u b j e ct of c o n f i s c a t i on or f o r f e i t u r e. A p p l i c a n t 's r e p l y i ng a f f i d a v it is c r i t i c al of the f a ct t h at a lot of w h at the p o l i ce say is s p e c u l a t i ve and at p l a c es h e a r s a y. W h at A p p l i c a n t 's d e p o n e nt s a ys s u f f e rs f r om the s a me d e f e c t. B o th s i d es h a ve to r e ly on e v i d e n ce of o t h e rs as b o th p a r t i es w e re n ot t h e r e. A p p l i c a n t 's d e p o n e nt w a n ts w h at he s a ys to be the last w o r d. Re v i r t u a l ly d e m a n ds to be a r r e s t ed if he is u n d er s u s p i c i o n. As I h a ve s a id the w h o le m a t t er is s t i ll u n d er i n v e s t i g a t i o n, T he o u t c o me of the i n v e s t i g a t i on is a w a i t e d. In R v L e v a ck 1 9 6 1 ( 1) SA 5 87 it w as s t a t ed that the p o l i ce m u st e x e r c i se a s o u nd d i s c r e t i on in c a s es of s e i z u re t h ey m u st not u n n e c e s s a r i ly u se t h o se p o w e rs to the p r e j u d i ce of t h o se a f f e c t e d. T h ey m u st o n ly r e t a in or u se w h at is s u f f i c i e nt to /. . . -16- p r o ve the C r o wn c a s e. In R i c h a r ds v The A t t o r n ey G e n e r al 18 SC 164 c o u r ts o r d e r ed the r e l e a se of the s e i z ed p r o p e r ty a f t er it w as c l e ar that the A t t o r n ey G e n e r al w as no m o re a c t i ng r e a s o n a b ly in k e e p i ng the p r o p e r ty as a p o t e n t i al e x h i b i t. S o me t i me had e l a p s ed and the c a se was not p r o c e e d i ng c o n s e q u e n t ly the C o u rt had s o me e v i d e n ce of a b u se of p o w er to act o n, S e c t i on 52 of the C r i m i n al P r o c e d u re and E v i d e n ce Act 1 9 81 p r o v i d es that a p o l i c e m an is e n t i t l ed to s e i ze p r o p e r ty w h i c h . " is c o n c e r n ed in or on r e a s o n a b le g r o u n ds b e l i e v ed to be i n v o l v ed in the c o m m i s s i on or s u s p e c t ed c o m m i s s i on of an o f f e n c e ." T h is in my v i ew m e a ns the s a me thing as s e i z i ng p r o p e r ty w h i ch m ay a f f o rd e v i d e n c e, r e q u i r ed as e v i d e n ce or can r e a s o n a b ly a f f o rd e v i d e n c e. In W e p e n er v W h e at I n d u s t ry C o n t r ol B o a rd 1 9 5 0 ( 3) SA 426 C l a y d en J i n t e r f e r ed w i th the s e i z u re and r e t e n t i on of p r o p e r ty w h en there w as a b u n d a nt p r o of a v a i l a b le to p r o ve the C r o wn c a se and b a gs of o a ts had b e en s e i z ed and w e re b e i ng k e pt to p r o ve c o n t r a v e n t i on of the M a r k e t i ng Act of 1 9 37 c o n c e r n i ng m a r k e t i ng of o a t s. At p a ge 429 CD C l a y d en J c o n c l u d e d :- any " So p r e p a r ed for p r o s e c u t i on I do not t h i nk 'These b a gs r e a s o n a b le p e r s on w o u ld say in a d d i t i o n. of o a ts m ay be n e e d ed in e v i d e n c e '. I c a n n ot see e v en a r e m o te c h a n ce that the b a gs of o a ts will be u s e d ." In t h is c a se t he m a t t er is s t i ll u n d er i n v e s t i g a t i o n, We a re o b l i g ed to a s s u me t h at d e c i s i o ns c o n c e r n i ng w h at w i ll be u s ed as e x h i b i ts w i ll be t a k en f a i r ly n ot m a l i c i o u s l y. -17- T h e r e f o re it d o es n ot f o l l ow t h at e v en w h en i n v e s t i g a t i o ns s h ow t h at t he o w n e rs of t he v e h i c l es a re n ot i n v o l v ed a nd t h at t he v e h i c l es n e ed n ot be m a de e x h i b i t s, t he p o l i ce s h o u ld d e t a in t h e m. I h a ve s e r i o us d o u b ts w h e t h er t he p o l i ce w i t h o ut t he a d v i ce of t he D i r e c t or of P u b l ic P r o s e c u t i o ns c an k n ow for c e r t a in w h e t h er t h e se v e h i c l es w i ll or w i ll n ot be u s ed as e x h i b i t s. O n ce t he a c c u s ed a re c h a r g e d, t he D i r e c t or of P u b l ic P r o s e c u t i o ns b e c o m es t he d o m i n us l i t us a nd n ot t he p o l i c e. T he D i r e c t or of P u b l ic P r o s e c u t i o ns is an o f f i c er of t h is c o u r t. It w o u ld be w r o ng a nd i m p r o p er to a s s u me t h at he w o u ld a ct i m p r o p e r ly or m a l i c i o u s l y. It s e e ms to me t h at in a p p l i c a t i o ns of t h is n a t u re w h e re t he a c c u s ed h as a l r e a dy b e en c h a r g ed w i th the c o m m i s s i on of an o f f e n ce t he D i r e c t or of P u b l ic P r o s e c u t i o ns is a n e c e s s a ry p a r t y. To r e t u rn to t he p o l i c e, c o u r ts h a ve t a k en a s t a nd a g a i n st t he b e l i ef of t he p o l i ce t h at t h e ir d i s c r e t i on c a n n ot be i n t e r f e r ed w i t h. In I k a n e ng Makakole v O f f i c er C o m m a n d i ng CID a nd A n o t h er C of A ( C I V) N o . 18 of 1 9 85 ( u n r e p o r t e d) t he l a te /. . . M i l l er JA s u m m a r i s ed w h at m ay be t he p o s i t i on of t he p o l i ce in t h is m a t t er as f o l l o w s :- -18- t h e ir s u m m a r i s ed t h e re " B r i e f ly e x i s t ed g r o u n ds for s u s p e c t i ng t h at the c ar h ad b e en " c o n c e r n e d" or o f f e n c es a nd t h at it w as t h e r e f o re p r o p er to h o ld i t, e s p e c i a l ly as it m i g ht in t he c o u r se of t i me b e c o me s u b j e ct of f o r f e i t u re to t he S t a t e ." c o m m i s s i on o f f e n ce r e a s on t h at w as the an of in A f t er g o i ng o v er the f a c ts of t he c a se M i l l er JA in Ikaneng M a k a k o le v O f f i c er C o m m a n d i ng CID ( s u p r a) d e a l i ng w i th the u se of t he p o l i ce of the p o w e rs of d e t e n t i on of p r o p e r ty c o n c l u d e d: " In s h o rt w h at is v i s u a l i s ed by t he l e g i s l a t u re w as If a s t a ge is r e a c h ed w h en the p u r p o s e f ul d e t e n t i o n. d e t e n t i on c an l o n g er no s u r e ly be no p o i nt in the c o n t i n u ed d e t e n t i on of t he p r o p e r t y ." p u r p o s e f u l, a p p e a rs t h e re It s e e ms to me t h at o n ce t he d e c i s i on is r e a c h ed t h at t he v e h i c l es c an be d i s p e n s ed w i th as e x h i b i ts b e c a u se t h ey a re u n n e c e s s a ry to p r o ve the C r o wn c a se and t h e re a re no e v i d e n c i a ry g r o u n ds to bona f i de b e l i e ve t h ey c o u ld be t he s u b j e ct of a f o r f e i t u re to the S t a t e, t h en the v e h i c l es h a ve to be r e l e a s e d. As D a v i d s on J o b s e r v ed in G o t t g e i sl v De K l e rk & A n o. 1 9 7 4 ( 4) SA 4 03 at 4 07 t he p o l i ce a c t i ng in c o l l a b o r a t i on w i th t he A t t o r n e y- /. . . -19- G e n e r al ( w h o se f u n c t i o ns i n c l u de t h o se of the D i r e c t or of P u b l ic P r o s e c u t i o n s) u s u a l ly s i g n i fy t h at the p r o p e r ty is no l o n g er r e q u i r ed f or p u r p o s es of an e x h i b i t. 1 h a ve a l r e a dy s a id w h e re t h e re a re p e o p le w ho a re c r i m i n a l ly c h a r g e d, t h at o u g ht to be t he d e c i s i on of t he D i r e c t or of P u b l ic P r o s e c u t i o n. W h e re the s u s p e c ts h a ve n ot b e en c r i m i n a l ly c h a r g ed the m a t t er is e n t i r e ly in the h a n ds of t he p o l i c e, w ho w o u ld a re n o r m a l ly e x p e c t ed to s e ek a d v i ce b e f o re t a k i ng s u ch a d e c i s i o n. T he o p i n i on of A p p l i c a nt in t h is m a t t er c an n e v er be e n o u g h. T he b a s is of t h at c o n c l u s i on is n ot e v en b e en by a ny f a c t s, it is a b a re a s s e r t i o n, a p p l i c a nt w as n ot e v en t h e re w h en t he v e h i c l es w e re s e i z e d. S e c t i on 53 of the C r i m i n al P r o c e d u re a nd E v i d e n ce Act of 1 9 81 f or the r e t u rn of t h at p r o p e r t y, " if it a p p e a rs t h at s u ch a r t i c le is n ot r e q u i r ed f or p u r p o s es of e v i d e n ce or f or p u r p o s es of an o r d er of c o u r t, the. a r t i c le f r om t he p e r s on f r om w h om it w as s e i z e d , . . . or if s u ch p e r s on m ay n ot l a w f u l ly p o s s e ss s u ch a r t i c l e, to the p e r s on w ho m ay l a w f u l ly p o s s e ss i t ." T he p o l i ce or the D i r e c t or of P u b l ic P r o s e c u t i on n e ed t i m e. A p p l i c a nt b r o u g ht t he a p p l i c a t i on w i t h in t wo d a ys of the s e i z u re of the v e h i c l e s. T h at s e e ms to me to be too s h o r t. -20- P a r a g r a ph 8 of t he o p p o s i ng a f f i d a v it m a de on b e h a lf of t he F i r st R e s p o n d e nt s t a t es t he v e h i c le w e re n e ar t he p l a ce w h e re t he s t o l en p r o p e r ty w as s e i z e d. T he p o l i ce s ay t h ey r e a s o n a b ly b e l i e ve t he v e h i c l es w e re g o i ng to be u s ed in f u r t h e r a n ce of t he c r i me w i th w h i ch t h e ir d r i v e rs a re c h a r g e d. T h e r e f o re t he v e h i c l es w i ll a f f o rd e v i d e n ce of t he s u s p e c t ed c o m m i s s i on of t he o f f e n ce c h a r g e d. H ow t he v e h i c l es w i ll do t h is is n ot c l e a r. T he p o l i ce at t h is s t a ge a re p r o b a b ly n ot s u re b e c a u se i n v e s t i g a t i o ns a re c o n t i n u i n g. I s ee no r e a s on f or p r e - e m p t i ng t he i n v e s t i g a t i o ns by r e l e a s i ng t h e se v e h i c l e s, T he p o l i ce at p a r a g r a ph 9 c o n t i n u e: i n v e s t i g a t i o ns a " P o l i ce s t a r t l i ng s t a te of a f f a i rs i n v o l v i ng t he d e f r a u d i ng of t he c o u n t ry of m i l l i o ns a nd m i l l i o ns of M a l o ti in a r a c k et t h at e x t e n ds b e y o nd t he t e r r i t o r i al b o u n d a r i es of L e s o t h o ." r e v e a l ed h a ve f ar so To p e r s u a de t he C o u rt t h at t h e re w as s o me a b u se of p o w er or u n r e a s o n a b l e n e ss s o me d e l ay or l a p se of t i me w o u ld h e l p. In F a ko G r i f f i th v C o m m i s s i o n er of P o l i ce & A n o t h er C of A, ( C I V) N o. 9 of 1 9 91 ( u n r e p o r t e d) A c k e r m a nn JA s a id he c o u ld a c c e pt t h at in " t he c a se of t he m o st c o m p l ex c o m m e r c i al f r a ud c a s e" a. d e l ay in t he i n v e s t i g a t i on a nd f i n a l i s a t i on of t he m a t t er m i g ht be j u s t i f i ed up to a p o i n t. T h is c a se s e e ms to be a c a se of f r a ud e x t e n d i ng -21- f ar b e y o nd t he b o r d e rs of L e s o t h o, t h e r e f o re s o me t i me o u g ht to e l a p se b e f o re i n v e s t i g a t i o ns a re c o m p l e t e d. It w o u ld t h e r e f o re be w r o ng to p u sh t he p o l i ce to m a ke a h u r r i ed a nd p r e c i p i t o us d e c i s i on t h at m i g ht c a u se t he P o l i ce a nd t he D i r e c t or of P u b l ic P r o s e c u t i o ns to d e c i de u n n e c e s s a r i ly t h at t h e se v e h i c l es w i ll b e. e x h i b i ts at t he t r i al m e r e ly to g a in t i me to c o n t i n ue t h e ir i n v e s t i g a t i o n s. T he p o w e rs of d e c i s i o ns o u g ht to be e x e r c i s ed in g o od f a i th n ot to b uy t i m e. II c o u ld w e ll be t h at w h en t he i n v e s t i g a t i o ns a re c o m p l e t ed t he p o l i ce or t he D i r e c t or of P u b l ic P r o s e c u t i o ns ( in w h o se h a n ds t he c a se n ow o u g ht to b e) m i g ht d e c i de t he v e h i c l es n e ed n ot be k e pt as t h ey w i ll n ot be e x h i b i t s. In o r d er to e m p h a s i se t he n e ed to a ct w i th e x p e d i t i on I g a ve t he p o l i ce t en d a ys to s p e ed up i n v e s t i g a t i o ns a nd m a ke t he n e c e s s a r i ly c o n s u l t a t i on w i th t he D i r e c t or of P u b l ic P r o s e c u t i o ns in o r d er to d e t e r m i ne w h at is g o i ng to h a p p en to A p p l i c a n t 's v e h i c l es b e f o re t r i a l. T h is C o u rt h as an i n h e r e nt j u r i s d i c t i on ( e v en w h e re no s t a t u te s p e c i f i c a l ly a u t h o r i s es i t) to s ee t h at t h e re is no i l l e g a l i ty or a b u se of p o w er a m o u n t i ng to u n r e a s o n a b l e n e ss by a ny a u t h o r i ty or b o d y. T he f o l l o w i ng w o r ds of T r o l l ip J in R i d d o ch v A t t o r n ey G e n e r al 1 9 6 5 ( 1) SA 8 17 at 8 16 FG a p p ly to b o th t he D i r e c t or of P u b l ic P r o s e c u t i o n s, t he /... A t t o r n ey G e n e r al and the p o l i ce for that m a t t e r :- -22- m u st G e n e r al A t t o r n ey r e a s o n a b le " T he e x p e d i t i on in d e c i d i ng w h at to d o, and I h a ve no d o u bt t h a t, if he d e l a ys u n d u ly in m a k i ng his d e c i s i on in any p a r t i c u l ar c a s e, t he C o u rt c a n, and w o u ld at t he i n s t a n ce of an a g g r i e v ed p e r s o n, i n t e r v e ne and g r a nt a p p r o p r i a te r e l i e f ." w i th act In i n t e r v e n i ng c o u r ts a re a l w a ys c o n s c i o us of the f a ct that t h ey s h o u ld n ot u s u rp t he d i s c r e t i on that h as b e en a s s i g n ed to o t h er b o d i es and i n s t i t u t i o n s. In this c a se the C o u rt has o r d e r ed the F i r st R e s p o n d e n t, the C o m m i s s i o n er of P o l i ce to g i ve r e a s o ns in ten d a y s' time s h o u ld he find that the v e h i c l es of A p p l i c a nt o u g ht not to be r e l e a s e d. T he C o u rt w o u ld be f a i l i ng in its d u ty of p r o t e c t i ng the r i g h ts of i n d i v i d u a ls w h i le e n s u r i ng that the p u b l ic i n t e r e st is not h a r m e d, c o n s e q u e n t ly it m a de the f o l l o w i ng o r d e r: ( a) F i r st R e s p o n d e nt be g i v en ten d a ys to d e t e r m i ne w h at h is p o s i t i on at the t r i al be a b o ut t h e se v e h i c l e s. will (b) At the end. of the p e r i od the F i r st R e s p o n d e nt s h o u ld c a u se an a f f i d a v it to be m a de p u t t i ng to t he C o u rt w h at his p o s i t i on w i ll be at the trial and the r e a s o ns for i t, if he has n ot r e l e a s ed t he v e h i c l e s. (c) T he m a t t er is p o s t p o n ed to the 1 7 t h, M a r c h, 1 9 95 and t he Rule Nisi is e x t e n d ed a c c o r d i n g l y. /. . . To f a c i l i t a te e f f e c t i ve d e c i s i on m a k i ng I d i r e ct t h at t h is r u l i ng be s e r v ed on t he D i r e c t or of P u b l ic P r o s e c u t i o ns w ho is n ow t he d o m i n us litus n ow t h at c r i m i n al p r o c e e d i n gs a re p e n d i ng b e f o re t he c o u r t s. I s h a ll t h e r e f o re e x p e ct t he F i r st R e s p o n d e nt to a ct u n d er t he d i r e c t i o ns of t he D i r e c t or of P u b l ic P r o s e c u t i o n s. -23- In f u t u re t he C o u rt w i ll e x p e ct t he D i r e c t or of P u b l ic P r o s e c u t i o ns to be m a de a p a r ty to t he p r o c e e d i n gs w h e re c r i m i n al p r o c e e d i n gs h a ve a l r e a dy b e en i n s t i t u t e d. F or t he A p p l i c a nt F or t he C r o wn : M r. B u ys : M r. M o h a pi W . K . M. - M A Q U TU J U D GE