Two men who were involved in the assault of three women together with the former Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Mduduzi Manana have been sentenced.
Cyril Madonsela together with Thulani Mdaka were sentenced on 28 November in the Randburg Magistrates’ Court on two counts of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Read: Case against Manana co-accused postponed
Magistrate Saras Naidoo sentenced the duo to pay a R30 000 fine or eight months direct imprisonment for beating up Noluthando Mahlaba and Mandisa Duma. The assault took place in August, the month the country celebrates women and their contribution to society.
Manana was sentenced earlier this month.
In October, the pair pleaded guilty to the charge of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. On the day of the assault, the two accused, together with their accomplice Manana, beat up three victims by slapping, kicking and pulling their hair at a Fourways Restaurant, Cubana.
Read: Gender activist laments continued abuse of women
On 27 November, during mitigation, state prosecutor Yusuf Baba pleaded with the court to impose a sentence that will send a strong message to everyone and show that violence on women will not be tolerated.
Defence attorneys pleaded with the court to apply the element of mercy in handing down the sentence. They asked for a R3 000 fine or three months imprisonment. In handing down the sentences, Naidoo pointed out that the offence committed by the duo was violent. She highlighted that the victims were unarmed and harmless at the time of the assault. The magistrate also noted that the victims suffered both emotional and physical trauma.
Madonsela and Mdaka were also sentenced to spend 300 hours of community service, and a report by the probation officer recommended that they undergo anger management.
