Winnie 'will still serve her people'

2003-05-23 12:41

Cape Town - Former ANC Women's League President Winnie Madikizela-Mandela moved on Friday to dismiss suggestions that her resignation from Parliament ends her time in politics.

"She is definitely not removed from politics," her office said.

"She remains committed to active politics, serving her people in South Africa."

A spokesperson said Madikizela-Mandela had been concerned that reports of her resignation from the National Assembly had projected an end to her political career.

The veteran African National Congress activist - who has resigned from leadership positions in the party although remains a member - vacated her seat in Parliament with effect from May 21.

Madikizela-Mandela, ex-wife of former President Nelson Mandela, who was never quite the first Lady of South Africa but served as a deputy minister of arts, culture, science and technology in the first African National Congress government, was a Member of Parliament since 1994.

Her resignation took effect from May 21, according to the announcement, tablings and committee reports (ATC) of Parliament.

This follows her sentence last month in Pretoria regional court to five years in jail after her conviction on dozens of fraud and theft charges.

She said in a statement after her conviction - which she is taking on appeal - that she would resign as an MP, as ANC Women's League president and as a member of the ANC's national executive committee.

Magistrate Peet Johnson sentenced her to five years' in prison, of which one was suspended. But he ordered that part of the remaining four be converted to correctional supervision. She would in effect have to serve about one-sixth of the sentence - or eight months in prison.

Her co-accused, broker Addy Moolman was given a seven-year jail sentence, two of which were suspended for five years. They were both granted bail of R10 000 pending the outcome of their appeal against conviction and sentence.

Madikizela-Mandela would have given up a yearly remuneration package as an MP of R380 760 a year - or nearly R32 000 a month - including a car allowance of R76 152 a year. Her basic salary would have been R304 608 a year.

Madikizela-Mandela, who turns 70 next year, can now claim a pension, but parliamentary sources indicate that it would be in the region of about R4 000 rand a month.

Madikizela-Mandela survived the 1991 trial and conviction for kidnapping of Stompie Sepei during which she gave up her political position in the ANC but bounced back in 1993 - defeating Albertina Sisulu for the post of president of the ANC Women's League.

Mandela had announced in April 1992 that their marriage had come to an end.

They were divorced after he became president in August 1994.

In mid-1995 she was fired from her position as deputy minister for a range of misdemeanours including an unauthorised trip abroad using her position to foster the interests of her daughter and using state vehicles without authority.

On the same day that she was convicted by Pretoria court last month, the Cape High Court dismissed with costs her bid to stop National Assembly Speaker Frene Ginwala from publicly reprimanding her. The reprimand, together with a 15-day salary fine, was recommended by parliament's joint ethics committee.

It found in 2002 that she had not disclosed about R55 000 a month in donations and financial interest in the Mandela Family Museum in Soweto.

Madikizela-Mandela was seldom seen in the National Assembly and has not addressed the house since Women's Day in August 1997.

A possible political comeback for Madikizela-Mandela would depend on the success of her appeal.

In terms of the constitution anyone who "...is convicted of an offence and sentenced to more than 12 months' imprisonment without the option of a fine either in the Republic or outside the Republic if the conduct constituting the offence would have been an offence in the Republic but no one may be regarded as having been sentenced until an appeal against the conviction or sentence has been determined or until the time for an appeal has expired".

Significantly, a disqualifaction under this paragraph ends five years after the sentenced has been completed. - Sapa/I-Net Bridge

- I-Net Bridge (Business)