ANC branch leader sentenced for assault on woman outside Luthuli House
Setona will head directly to prison to serve his sentence as no option of paying a fine was granted by the court.
NO MERCY. ANC members attack BLF supporters outside Luthuli House in Johannesburg, after a van carrying a group of BLF members was attacked. Picture: Nigel Sibanda
Thabiso Setona, 36, the ANC branch secretary Zone 12 in Greater Johannesburg region, has been sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for assaulting a woman outside the party’s headquarters last year.
The 52-year-old woman, Olivia Makete, had been part of Black First Land First (BLF) protesters who were hauled out of a bakkie and attacked by ANC members claiming they were acting in defence of their “revolutionary house”.
A video of the vicious attack in which Setona is seen kicking a woman twice in the stomach as she lies on the ground went viral following the incident.
SowetanLive reports that Setona was found guilty of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and that he would head directly to prison to serve his sentence.
The police were quoted as saying that Setona’s conviction was a result of the diligent work of its investigating officers.
“We hope this sentence will scare away would-be offenders from committing the same crime. No person has a right to assault another person,” read a statement from the Johannesburg Central police station.
(Compiled by Makhosandile Zulu)
ALSO READ: WATCH: Woman assaulted outside Luthuli House lays formal charge
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