Winnie Mandela gags parliament speaker

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela obtained a court injunction tonight to avoid being publicly reprimanded by the Speaker of Parliament.

The ruling party MP and ex-wife of former president Nelson Mandela, was scheduled to appear in Parliament tomorrow to be rapped for not disclosing discounts and business interests.

The action followed a decision by Parliament in November 2002, that Madikizela-Mandela be reprimanded and be docked half a month’s salary under Parliament’s Code of Conduct.

The injunction was granted tonight in the Cape High Court by Judge Jerome Ngwenya, who said that due to the urgency of the matter, there was no time for him to give reasons.

Madikizela-Mandela, the ruling African National Congress Women’s League president, is currently on trial for fraud and theft.

In 1991, she was convicted of kidnapping and assault and sentenced to six years in prison. The sentence was reduced to a fine on appeal.