Manana co-accused fined hefty R30 000

THE Randburg Magistrate’s Court yesterday sentenced the two co-accused of former deputy minister Mduduzi Manana to pay a R30 000 fine or spend eight months in prison, half of it suspended for five years.

“The offence is serious in nature,” magistrate Saras Naidoo said when handing down their sentences.

Cyril Madonsela, 35, and Thulani Mdaka, 42, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm after they hit Mandisa Duma and Noluthando Mahlaba at the Cubaña restaurant in Fourways in August.

Naidoo said both the women were unarmed and harmless, then read out the clinical findings and the injuries suffered by Duma and Mahlaba. As part of the social worker’s recommendations, Madonsela and Mdaka must undergo anger management, decisionmaking and substance abuse programmes.

“Both are first offenders and are remorseful and contribute meaningfully to their families... Direct imprisonment would be too harsh and not suitable.”

Naidoo said a fine of R3 000 would be too lenient.

The sentencing comes during the 16 Days of Activism for no Violence Against Women and Children.

On Monday, the defence counsels for Madonsela and Mdaka asked Naidoo for a R3 000 fine or three months’ imprisonment, or a R6 000 fine with a suspended sentence.