Media moguls Basetsana and her husband Romeo Kumalo appeared at the Randburg Magistrate Court today for the sentencing of author Jackie Phamotse, who was found guilty of crimen injury, defamation and contempt of court. Probation Officer Xoliswa Budaza from the Gauteng Department of Social Development recommended that Jackie's sentencing should include a public apology and a R5 000 to R8 000 fine as this was all she could afford. Budaza also told the court that she had to omit some information from Jackie's statement due to personal health and private reasons.

TAKING THE STAND

This morning in court, Jackie sat in the dock as Basetsana took to the stand to read out her victim's statement. Dressed in designer wear and supported by her husband Romeo and close industry friends Simphiwe Majola, Happy Ngidi, Lupi Ngcayisa and Josina Ziyaya Mache, to name a few, Basetsana pleaded the court to give Jackie direct imprisonment and detailed how the court case affected her family emotionally, mentally and financially.

BASSIE'S VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENT

Basetsana said the matter did not only affect her family; but also, her extended family and the legacy of her deceased parents, adding that she was raised well with strong Christian values. "My elder mother-in-law and father-in-law who are here today, have had to live in shame for five years, this lie affecting their church lives and interactions with extended family who read about the utterances of Ms Phamotse in newspapers, getting calls to ask what "is going on." We stopped being invited to family gatherings and social events," she said. She said, very few people wanted to associate with her family during the trial. "We lost a lot of family and friends at a very low time in our lives, and this also added to the emotional distress and trauma that we had already been going through," she said. "My family and I were devastated that our very own friends could share these horrible stories about us, and even more devastating is that some of them believed it. I have three children, Nkosinathi as I said is now 18, Kgosi is 11, and Bontle ba Morena turned nine years old in July. These children have been deprived of a normal and happy childhood because other parents did not want their children around myself and my husband after what Ms Phamotse had tweeted about us." she continued in her statement.

HUBBY BRANDED A PAEDOPHILE

Basetsana concluded that she and her husband are well-known public figures and as such, their income is also derived from their image. "We have both worked exceptionally hard over the years to build our brand equity and traded on our good names. I am a brand ambassador for well-known companies in South Africa. I have been in this court 51 times over the last five years, 51 times, for the last three years incurring costs on flights and accommodation." she said adding her husband's image was also tainted. "Ms Phamotse's tweets portrayed my husband as a paedophile and myself as a woman with no values. This caused irreparable harm to our dignity and character in the community."

POSTPONED

Leading expert on social media law and witness Emma Sadleir brought by the prosecution also took the stand and stated that Jackie had ample time to show remorse and apologise had she been remorseful. "I believe she needs direct imprisonment, regardless of how long that may be. I have come here, kind of as a cheerleader for victims of cyber-bullying," Emma said, admitting to being biased in the matter as she stands by the Kumalos.

Jackie and the prosecution will present closing statements and the sentencing will take place on 26 March.