Abusive wife ‘should’ve gone to jail’

The husband of an ANC councillor is unhappy that his abusive wife escaped direct jail time after she opted to pay a R1,000 fine instead of spending six months behind bars.

English teacher Mpumelelo Fulani, 50, was assaulted by his wife, Ngqushwa ward 11 councillor Nobulali Fulani, 41, on October 15 2018, over his alleged adultery.

She was found guilty of common assault and sentenced to six months in jail, wholly suspended for three years.

Fulani was aggrieved at the “lenient” sentence and accused the state of prioritising making money at his expense. “The state benefited while I, as the person who was assaulted, got nothing. I will be taking this further with my attorneys.”

Fulani said he opened the case on October 15 2018 after his now estranged wife had punched him till he bled and torn off his T-shirt.

Fulani said all was well in their marriage of 14 years until his then unemployed wife was elected to the council after the 2016 local government elections.

He said he opened three cases of domestic violence against his wife in 2018 alone.

“Politics have a way of bringing out the bad in people,” said Fulani.

However, the councillor – who maintains her innocence despite the guilty verdict and sentencing by the court – said her husband was intent on badmouthing her, even asking her church council to expel her.

“The reality is that my husband is having an affair and children out of our marriage.”

She believes her husband is jealous of her political career.

Fulani also reported the matter to the EFF in the hope they would fight to get her removed as a councillor.

Asked why he had involved the EFF, he said: “My opinion is we can’t have unruly councillors leading our communities.”

EFF Ngqushwa chair Simthembile Khala confirmed the party had failed on Wednesday to have the councillor removed from the council over a criminal record because when the matter was put to a vote, the ANC defeated the motion with its majority.