She is turning 50 on Friday and it is going to be a great celebration for Basetsana Kumalo after the victory she had on Tuesday.
After six years of attending a court case, the matter has been concluded and she is happy with the sentence.
Even though the media mogul and former Miss South Africa wanted controversial author Jackie Phamotse to be in orange overalls, she welcomes the sentence handed down by Magistrate S Naidoo.
Jackie Phamotse is placed under house arrest for the full duration of correctional supervision. The Commissioner of Correctional Services is authorised to suspend part of the period, not exceeding 25% and to reintroduce it.
“The accused is ordered to perform free community services for 16 hours per month of sentence. The accused is ordered to submit herself for an assessment with a social worker and complete life skills programme and any other programme, as directed to by the commissioner correctional services or a duly authorised correctional official,” said Naidoo.
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While she is under house arrest, Jackie must refrain from alcohol and drugs other than for medical purposes for the duration of her sentence. She must also notify the officers if her residential address changes will be monitored and has to comply with any reasonable instructions given to her.
“For count three the accused is sentenced to a fine of Twelve Thousand- or four-months imprisonment and for count four she is sentenced to a fine of Eighteen Thousand Rands.
Speaking to Drum, Basetsana who was draped in a purple floral number and was beaming from ear to ear said she is happy with the outcome of the case.
“This unprecedented judgment is a victory not only for my family but for each South African who wakes up every morning and works hard to earn an honest living,” said an ebullient Bassie.
“This is for each South African child who has been cyberbullied. Now South Africans have a recourse that they can come to the courts to seek justice should they be cyberbullied.”
She says the judgment is also a tribute to people who have taken their lives because of cyberbullies, so they welcome this judgment.
“It’s been a horrendous, arduous six years, and I don’t wish them on anybody. It has been a very difficult time for my family and I, especially my young children to have to [grow up] with this debaucherous diabolical lie over their heads.
“I am very much revealed that we can finally restore our lives, find our peace, and move on with our lives. Everybody in this country has a right to appeal, and so we shall wait for the decision of the appeal.”
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This was an important case for Bassie, and she says that is why she attended the matter for six years.
“It is important for anybody to stand up for themselves, stand up for their rights dignity, and integrity of your own family.
“More importantly, you should not allow people to define your destiny and take away your voice. Through this court case, I have restored my voice. I have restored somebody who was trying to rewrite the narrative of my life and the legacy I have created in this country. I have claimed my voice back and I am very happy about that.”
The victory came at the right time when she is going to celebrate five decades for a beautiful and blessed life lived.
