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  • In what ways did the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic impact on the illegal drug trade? We explore how traders changed their modi operandi in an article published from p14 in Servamus: June 2022.

  • Dogs are known for their excellent sense of smell. Read our article published from p30 in Servamus: June 2022 about how a South African company has trained dogs to also detect COVID-19.

  • The floods of April 2022 caused havoc and death in KwaZulu-Natal. Fortunately, hundreds of search and rescue specialists used their skills to help search for those who were in need. Refer to an article published from p36 in Servamus: June 2022.

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The appointment of an intermediary in respect of a child witness

- S v Mhlongo (AR 504/19) [2021] ZAKZPHC 45 (30 July 2021) (KZP)

Relevant and applicable legal provisions
Section 170A(1), (4) and (5) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 (“the CPA”) provides as follows:

“170A Evidence through intermediaries [in Afrikaans text: ‘getuienis deur bemiddeling van tussengangers’]

(1) Whenever criminal proceedings are pending before any court and it appears to such court that it would expose any witness under the biological or mental age of eighteen years to undue mental stress or suffering if he or she testifies at such proceedings, the court may, subject to subsection (4) [infra], appoint a competent person as an intermediary in order to enable such witness to give his or her evidence through that intermediary.

(2) and (3) …

(4)(a) The Minister [of Justice] may by notice in the Gazette determine the persons or the category or class of persons who are competent to be appointed as intermediaries.

(b) An intermediary who is not in the full-time employment of the State shall be paid such travelling and subsistence and other allowances in respect of the services rendered by him or her as the Minister, with the concurrence of the Minister of Finance, may determine.

(5)(a) No oath, affirmation or admonition which has been administered through an intermediary in terms of section 165 [of the CPA] shall be invalid and no evidence which has been presented through an intermediary shall be inadmissible solely on account of the fact that such intermediary was not competent to be appointed as an intermediary in terms of a regulation referred to in subsection (4)(a) [supra], at the time when such oath, affirmation or admonition was administered or such evidence was presented.

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[This is only an extract of an article published in Pollex in Servamus: May 2022. If you are interested in reading the rest of the article, send an e-mail to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to find out what you need to do. Ed.]

Servamus - June 2022

Synthetic drugs: A deadly chemical cocktail
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According to the World Drug Report for 2021, as released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), drug use resulted in the deaths of almost half a million people in 2019 (UNODC, 2021).
By Kotie Geldenhuys
Drug mules: Pawns to international drug syndicates
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In December 2011, 38-year-old Janice Bronwyn Linden from Durban was executed in China.
By Kotie Geldenhuys
The drug dealer lurking inside your smartphone and computer
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WhatsApp and Telegram have become popular tools to send messages quickly and at almost no cost.
By Annalise Kempen
Dealing with addiction - especially if mom or dad is the addict
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We all know someone who has been struggling with an addiction - ranging from prescription medication to illegal drugs, alcohol to gambling or even shopping.
Compiled by Annalise Kempen
Newsflash

Pollex - June 2022

Relevant, applicable legal provisions
Section 304(4) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 (“the CPA”) provides as follows:
Child pornography material discovered at an SAPS roadblock
Read More - S v Essop (Case no 432/2020) [2021] ZASCA 66 (1 June 2021) (SCA)
Mr Aadiel Essop, the accused, pleaded guilty before the regional court (“the trial court”) on 45 counts of contravening section 24B(1)(a) of the Films and Publications Act 65 of 1996 (hereinafter referred to as the “Publications Act”), as well as one count of common law kidnapping (Afrikaans: “gemenereg menseroof”).
Accused can only afford R300 per month maintenance (“papgeld”), but eventually receives R75 000!
Read More - Minister of Justice (First Appellant) and Minister of Police (Second Appellant) v Masia 2021 (2) SACR 425 (GP)
Picture the following: On 6 August 2013, Mr Thabo Toka Mack Masia (hereinafter referred to as “Masia”) presented himself by appointment at the Atteridgeville Magistrates’ Court in Pretoria before a maintenance (“papgeld”) officer for an enquiry in terms of the Maintenance Act 99 of 1998 pertaining to the maintenance of his minor child.
Again the rape of a lesbian in order to “make her a woman”
Read More - S v Albro Mclean. Case no: (A112/21) [2021] ZAWCHC158 High Court Cape Town dated 12 August 2021 and 2021(2) SACR 437 (WCC)
Mr Albro Mclean, the accused, was convicted of rape in the Wynberg regional court in the Cape Peninsula whereupon he was sentenced to life incarceration.

Letters - June 2022

National Police Commissioner appreciates #SearchAndRescue teams during site visit at Virginia airport
Read More
On Monday 9 May 2022, the National Commissioner of the SAPS, Gen Fannie Masemola along with members of his management team conducted a site visit at the joint operational centre (JOC) for search and rescue teams at the Virginia Airport in Durban.
Police dog & handler under bee attack amid flood recovery operations
Read More
Saturday 14 May 2022 was to be yet another day of search, rescue and recovery operations in the disaster areas of KwaZulu-Natal following the flood devastation a few weeks earlier.
June Magazine Cover

Servamus' Mission

Servamus is a community-based safety and security magazine for both members of the community as well as safety and security practitioners with the aim of increasing knowledge and sharing information, dedicated to improving their expertise, professionalism and service delivery standards. It promotes sound crime management practices, freedom of speech, education, training, information sharing and a networking platform.