Winnie's rigging claim rejected

2003-04-27 14:25

Cape Town - The justice ministry on Sunday rejected a claim by convicted fraudster Winnie Madikizela-Mandela that her sentence was rigged by people she had "worked hard to put in power".

"It's not true at all," said ministry spokesperson Paul Setsetse. "We deny these allegations."

A Pretoria Regional Court magistrate on Friday sentenced her to an effective eight months in jail after finding her guilty on 68 fraud and theft charges.

Newspapers in the Naspers group however reported on Sunday that she claimed in an interview after the sentencing that she was "betrayed by my comrades I had helped put in power".

She said she and her counsel were stunned on Thursday when prosecutor Jan Ferreira allegedly approached the magistrate and the defence to ask that sentence be delayed to Friday so he could consult National Director of Public Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka.

"I had no doubt in my mind the decision to consult Ngcuka, who will then consult with (justice minister Penuell) Maduna, demonstrated my sentence was not going to be decided by the court," the newspapers quoted her as saying.

"There is no doubt my sentence was decided by both Ngcuka and Maduna."

Did not discuss it

Setsetse said in reaction that Maduna did not discuss the merits or demerits of cases with either the prosecuting authority or members of the judiciary.

"He has never discussed the merits or demerits of this case, of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela's case, with anyone," Setsetse said.

"Prosecutors are merely there to motivate on behalf of the State. Everything beyond that is left entirely to the presiding officer, the judge or the magistrate.

"If a prosecutor says he's going to discuss something with (Ngcuka) it will be completely irrelevant to the outcome of the case, because the magistrate is the only person who decides that outcome."

Setsetse said Maduna had in fact been "shocked and disappointed" when told of the sentence.

"He didn't even know what was going on, actually."

Ngcuka's spokesperson could not be immediately reached for comment.

Madikizela-Mandela and her accomplice, broker Addy Moolman, are on bail of R10 000 each pending the outcome of their appeal.

- SAPA