EFF secretary-general Marshall Dlamini (dressed in black) leaves court after receiving the verdict. (Jenni Evans/News24)
EFF secretary-general Marshall Dlamini was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for five years, in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court for assaulting police officer Johan Carstens in Parliament in 2019.
Dlamini was also sentenced to a R6,000 fine or three months' imprisonment for malicious damage to property.
“Certainly, I am prepared to accept that lessons have been learned,” Judge Nasha Bhanwari said in pre-sentencing comments why she opted not for a prison sentence.
Dlamini was charged with assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and criminal damage following the incident after the 2019 State of the Union address.
Judge Banwari found Carstens guilty of assaulting him and breaking his glasses during an incident in the Parliament lobby on February 7, 2019.
In his defence, Dlamini claimed he expected EFF leader Julius Malema to be attacked.
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