The Hindu : Winnie sentenced

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 26, 2003

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Winnie sentenced

AFP

Supporters of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, former wife of the former South African President, Nelson Mandela, demonstrate at Pretoria court on Friday.

Durban April 25. Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the ex-wife of the former South African President, Nelson Mandela, was today sentenced to five years in prison, with one year suspended, on 43 charges of fraud and 25 of theft.

Hundreds rally in Winnie's support

Hundreds of student supporters of African National Congress leader, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, today gathered outside the Pretoria Regional Court shouting slogans against the five-year sentence given to her on charges of fraud and theft.

``I am very angry that one of our struggle heroes is being sent to jail by a racist magistrate,'' said Julius Malembe, president of the Congress of South African Students. He was earlier evicted from the court room after he shouted, ``Mama Winnie was a victim of the revolution''.

``Where are all her comrades she fought with for the struggle for liberation?'' one supporter was heard shouting.

However, political analysts and veteran black journalists were of the view that ``no one was above the law.''

``Madikizela-Mandela is definitely a struggle icon but no one is above the law,'' said Mathatha Tseud, Editor of the Sunday Times, in an interview with the SAFM National radio. ``We have a lawful Constitution and anyone breaks the law must suffer the consequences'', he said.

While supporters rallied around her, analysts said Ms Winnie Madikizela-Mandela may be down but certainly not out. The black journalist, Jimmy Seepe, said Ms Madikizela-Mandela made it easy for ANC by resigning from her positions. ``But by no accounts she's finished''. ``She may go to jail but a struggle icon who has been in the thick of things for the past 40 years cannot just be wiped out from the political sphere of South Africa'', he said.

PTI

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