Winnie Mandela jailed for five years

The ex-wife of former South Africa president Nelson Mandela has been jailed for five years following her conviction for fraud and theft.

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was found guilty yesterday of fraud and theft involving one million rand (£85,000). The court has stipulated that Madikizela-Mandela should be incarcerated for one sixth of her sentence and serve the rest on community service.

Madikizela-Mandela, 64, was convicted of 43 counts of fraud and 25 of theft, while Addy Moolman, her financial advisor, was found guilty of 58 counts of fraud and 25 of theft. Moolman was jailed for seven years.

The court found that letters on African National Congress Women's League (ANCWL) stationery, that bore Madikizela-Mandela's signature, were used to fraudulently obtain bank loans in the name of bogus employees, including her daughter, Zinzi.

The theft charges related to money deducted from the bank accounts of loan applicants for a funeral policy that the prosecution said did not exist.

Concluding her testimony last month, Madikizela-Mandela said that she signed the documents, handed to her by her secretary, without checking them, and that she was duped into taking part in fraud.

Madikizela-Mandela is a Member of Parliament and President of the ANCWL who had played a role in the nation's successful anti-apartheid campaign led by her former husband. Some supporters know Madikizela-Mandela as "the mother of the nation" for her role in the anti-apartheid era. Whereas others refer to her as “the mugger of the nation” particularly in the light of her conviction in 1991 of kidnapping charges in the murder of a 14-year-old boy. The six-year prison sentence she received over the incident was reduced to a fine on appeal.

She also recently refused to pay a fine levied by parliament for financial irregularities and has just only settled a legal battle with a bank over money owed on a loan for her luxury home in Soweto.

(GMcG/AMcE)