Sisulu off the hook as Sedi drops charge
Wife says it is in the best interest of her marriage
The woman who accused Shaka Sisulu of assault has dropped the charge, saying it was a “misunderstanding”.
In a bizarre twist that saw the case being withdrawn in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court yesterday, the state cited “successful mediation” as grounds for the withdrawal.
Lerato Sedi had struggle icon Walter Sisulu’s grandson and father of her son charged with assault last month.
Sedi, however, made an about-turn in a statement released after court proceedings yesterday, and said she withdrew the charges for the sake of her “marriage”.
“After much reflection, I have decided to withdraw the charge against Shaka Sisulu,” she said. “It was a misunderstanding and it is in the best interest of my marriage that we put this matter behind us. It was never Shaka’s intention to cause me any physical harm.”
Sisulu, an entrepreneur and TV personality, was charged with common assault.
Prosecutor Weasels Schiebler told magistrate Lizel Davies that Sedi was withdrawing the charge. “The [parties] had a successful mediation and the complainant is withdrawing the charge.”
The two sat outside court before the proceedings, chatting and laughing together.
They entered the courtroom together and Sisulu even took a picture of Sedi on the front bench with court officials.
Sisulu said he was pleased by the outcome of this “unfortunate” matter and thanked Sedi for deciding to do “the right thing”.
“My wife and I have come to the realisation that we have to work on our relationship and that will be our immediate focus going forward. We have put this matter behind us as one of life’s lessons,” Sisulu said last night.