A South African court convicted Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and her broker on dozens of counts of fraud and theft on Thursday in a move that could send the anti-apartheid heroine and member of parliament to jail. "The state's evidence is overwhelming," magistrate Peet Johnson told a Pretoria court. Madikizela-Mandela was found guilty on 43 counts of fraud and 25 of theft. Her co-accused, broker Addy Moolman, was convicted on 58 counts of fraud and 25 of theft. The pair were permitted to remain free on bail and were expected to be sentenced on Friday.
She and Moolman had both pleaded not guilty to 85 charges of fraud and theft, which each carry a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. State prosecutors said letters bearing Madikizela-Mandela's signature were used to secure loans for bogus employees of the Women's League of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), which she heads. Madikizela-Mandela's lawyers accused Moolman, bank staff and Women's League employees of lying about her role in the scheme. They argued she was duped into participating in a fraud she knew nothing about.
"I wuz framed, I tell ya!"
Both were also found guilty of the theft charges, which stem from allegations that they set up a phony funeral insurance scheme and then pilfered money from participants' accounts. Thursday's conviction prompted renewed opposition calls for Madikizela-Mandela to resign her parliamentary seat. "A member of parliament convicted on 43 charges of fraud should not stay on in parliament," Douglas Gibson, opposition Democratic Alliance chief whip, said in a statement.
Gee, you recon? |