Madikizela-Mandela's fall from grace ends in prison sentence

Sentencing Winnie Madikizela-Mandela to four years in jail for fraud and theft on Thursday, a magistrate described her as a well-loved woman whose fall from grace has been "enormous."

Within minutes of hearing her fate, the fiery anti-apartheid leader and ex-wife of former President Nelson Mandela, released a statement resigning from all her political positions with immediate effect.

She quit as President of the African National Congress Woman's League, an executive member of the ruling ANC and her position as a lawmaker.

A day after convicting her of 43 counts of fraud and 25 of theft, magistrate Peet Johnson sentenced her to five years in prison, but suspended one year of the sentence. Her co-accused, Addy Moolman who was convicted of 58 counts of fraud and 25 of theft, was sentenced to seven years in jail with two years suspended.

Once known as the "Mother of the Nation", the trained social worker could be paroled after eight months to serve the rest of her sentence doing community work.

She and Moolman had pleaded innocent to 60 charges of fraud and 25 of theft involving $120,000. They were accused of using letters on African National Congress Woman's League stationery to fraudulently obtain bank loans in the name of nonexistent employees. The theft charges relate to money deducted from the bank accounts of loan applicants for a bogus funeral policy.

Both were released on bail pending their appeals against their convictions and sentences.

Echoing the sentiments of prosecutor Jan Ferreira who had recommended Madikizela-Mandela not receive any prison time, Johnson commended her role in the anti-apartheid struggle.

"You are a well-known and a well-loved person," he said. "Only a fool would underplay the important role you played."

Two young black men with similar opinions were earlier removed from the courtroom after standing up and voicing their support while Johnson was speaking.

Wearing a picture of Martin Luther King on a cord around his neck, one told Madikizela-Mandela, "I will die next to you, mama, I am nothing but your tiny servant."

Seconds after police pushed him out of the courtroom another stood up and said: "This is nothing but a racial attack. We will fight left, right and centre to ensure that you are free."

Outside the courthouse about 300 supporters sang and chanted amid tight security as Madikizela-Mandela smiled and raised her fist during a brief appearance.

Calling her sentencing an "immense humiliation", political science professor, Sampie Terreblanche said "for all practical purposes, the game is over."

He did, however, see her playing a future role as a "champion of the poor."

"She certainly has a support base and she can work on it," Terreblanche said. He had no doubt that if she has to serve time in prison, "she will bounce back."

Madikizela-Mandela spoke neither to her supporters nor journalists, but her statement said she was convinced an appeal would confirm her innocence.

"I intend to spend my time henceforth to do the work that I started in my early life and to bind my destiny with everyone with whom I share the ideals of a just South Africa."

Madikizela-Mandela has been at odds in recent years with some high-ranking ANC officials. In a separate hearing on Friday, the Cape High Court dismissed her bid to stop a public reprimand in Parliament for failure to disclose some of her income.

Madikizela-Mandela was convicted in 1991 for kidnapping and assault. Her six-year jail sentence was reduced on appeal to a fine.