UPDATE: July 4, 2017
PENNY Sparrow’s daughter Charmaine Cowie represented her mother in court yesterday.
The ANC had chosen to extend the payment period due to Ms Sparrow’s dire financial situation and she now has two years in which to pay the fine.
Umdoni ANC Chief Whip Bonginkosi Mngadi, shared his thoughts after court.
He said: “She did not pay the R150 000 in two months. We are therefore saying as the African National Congress the money cannot be waived. We are therefore extending the payment period to two years.”
The ANC has stated that it will not rest until the money has been paid in full.
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UPDATE: July 3, 2017
PENNY SPARROW’S 150 day window period in which to pay the R150 000 fine is over and now the ANC, it seems, is determined to make sure she honours that commitment.
Last night (Wednesday) the party released a statement saying it would be demanding that the court uphold its judgment.
Ms Sparrow failed to appeal the R150 000 fine issued by Magistrate Irfaan Khallil in the Scottburgh Magistrate’s Court on November 3, 2016.
The pensioner, who says she barely has enough money for day-to-day expenses, could not be reached for comment at the time of writing.
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Members of the ANC will reportedly be protesting outside the court today (Thursday).
The R150 000 fine was to be paid to the Oliver Adelaide Tambo Foundation, however, as previously reported, the Foundation had refused to accept the money, with chief executive Mavuso Msimang describing it as ‘racist money’.
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In an earlier interview, Ms Sparrow claimed she was unable to find a job and had no means of paying the fine.
During her September 12 appearance, she tendered an apology which would later be graciously accepted by the ANC.
“I realise what I did was wrong,” said a tearful Ms Sparrow, adding that: “It is difficult to put into words the regret that I feel. I will from now on strive to be a better citizen. Respecting others and working towards making our country a better place to live in.”
She was also sentenced to a period of two years’ imprisonment, which was suspended for five years, and declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Super Zuma, the African National Congress’s provincial secretary, confirmed that they were pleased with the ruling. “As the ANC, we are really satisfied. The law has taken its course and we accept her apology.”
Mr Zuma – at the time – added that he hopes this will ‘serve as a lesson to all others who utter racist comments’.
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UPDATE: November 4
PENNY Sparrow has now been ordered to pay the R150 000 fine issued earlier this year by Magistrate Irfaan Khallil in the Scottburgh Magistrate’s Court.
This follows a brief appearance in the Equality Court on Thursday, November 3.
Ms Sparrow also has to pay an additional R5 000 as a result of her racist slurs on the social media platform Facebook, earlier this year.
Under advisement by ANC Legal Representative, Peter Williams, Ms Sparrow had opted to withdraw her motion to appeal the fine, according to her daughter, Charmaine Cowie.
Ms Sparrow could not be reached for comment, however, her daughter, Ms Cowie who also represented her in the Scottburgh Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, stated that they do not have the money which Ms Sparrow now has to pay.
According to Ms Cowie, Ms Sparrow’s former Legal Aid South Africa Representative, Elaine MacDonald, had opted not to represent her in Court.
“They don’t want to represent her because they felt that she could not win the case,” her daughter said.
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