The Randburg magistrate’s court recently handed down a sentence to controversial author Jackie Phamotse for defaming former Miss South Africa, Basetsana Khumalo, and her husband, Romeo.
Jackie Phamotse sentence: Here’s what the court ruled
Phamotse has been sentenced to two years of house arrest.
On the financial front, she’s been handed a bill of R12,000 or a four-month vacation behind bars for one count, and for another, a heftier R18,000 or six months in the slammer.
The court, playing the role of a strict but fair adjudicator, declared that considering Phamotse’s post-offence antics, a light tap on the back wouldn’t suffice. It’s correctional supervision for the opening acts and a hit to the wallet for the encore.
In the spotlight during sentencing, Phamotse’s legal maestro, Mpho Mathonsi, painted a picture of his client marred by distress and misery, a shadow of her former self. He threw a plea for leniency into the mix, highlighting Phamotse’s debut in the offender’s arena, her role as the family’s breadwinner, and her crusade against gender-based violence. “She’s not cut out for prison life,” he argued, “Society needs her more than the prison does.”
What got Phamotse in trouble with the law
The plot thickens back to a tweet in 2018, where Phamotse dropped a bombshell about a compromising video allegedly involving the Khumalos.
This tweet was the spark that lit a legal battle lasting five years, culminating in a verdict that saw Phamotse guilty as charged on four counts.
It’s a tale of crimen injuria, criminal defamation, and contempt of court—enough drama to fill a bestselling novel.
Basetsana Khumalo, standing on the victor’s podium, breathed a sigh of relief as the gavel came down.
The journey had been long and weary for her family, but justice had its day.
Phamotse’s ill-fated tweet and her 2019 book, I Tweet What I Like: So … Sue Me, were the linchpins in a case that tested the boundaries of free speech and the sanctity of personal reputation.
As the dust settles on this legal showdown, it’s clear that the pen—or tweet—can indeed be mightier than the sword, but with great power comes great responsibility.
Jackie Phamotse’s saga serves as a cautionary tale on the perils of public discourse in the digital age, where a few taps on a keyboard can lead to a courtroom drama of epic proportions.