Shack dwellers’ movement Abahlali baseMjondolo said it was unfair that only Mani’s purchases of cigarettes and alcohol have been highlighted when she also bought cellphone airtime, blankets, cookware
Sibongile Mani, the Eastern Cape student who was convicted of theft in February, after spending R818 000 of the R14 million accidentally deposited into her bank account, has been sentenced to five years in prison.
She likened Mani to a “white-collar criminal”, saying it was well known that this “type of offence is tightening its grip in South Africa and threatens the stability and wellbeing of its people”. Mani has a degree in accounting, a diploma in internal auditing, a post-graduate certificate in education and is studying towards an honours degree in education.Mani and her supporters burst into tears after hearing her sentence, then huddled together to pray. About 100 members of the Pan Africanist Student Movement of Azania , to which Mani belongs, have supported her at each court appearance.
“She has emerged from a very poor background. After passing matric she could not proceed straight to university because there were no funds. She got a job, took care of her family, she made little savings to get to university and she managed to do just that,” said Pakade.
The Independent Komani Residents’ Association said that in transferring millions of rands to Mani’s bank account, Intellimali had “exploited her vulnerability as a student from a disadvantaged background”.
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