Mama Jackie guilty of kidnapping

Controversial Soweto school principal Jackie Maarohanye, also known as “Mama Jackie”, was found guilty of kidnapping a former student by the Protea Magistrate’s Court on Monday, Johannesburg police said.

“Maroohanye was found guilty of kidnapping Simphiwe Ncoguthu today. The case was postponed to January 21 for sentencing,” said police spokesperson Constable Sefako Xaba.

Her bail was extended until then.

Maarohanye (49), principal of Ithuteng Trust in Kliptown, Soweto, and other two accused were initially charged with assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and kidnapping former student Ncoguthu (24) in February last year.

Ncoguthu, of Orlando, Soweto, claimed he was stripped and paraded through the streets, where Maarohanye and her pupils beat him up.

However, the controversial principal, once hailed as the “Angel of Soweto”, had charges of assaulting Ncoguthu withdrawn against her by magistrate David Mhango on October 10.

Journalist

She was acquitted in October on charges of kidnapping and assaulting Sowetan journalist Vusi Ndlovu on February 17.

Within minutes of having her kidnapping case struck off the roll, she had swapped her black suit for camouflage military fatigues, media reports said at the time. She danced on the steps of the Protea Magistrate’s Court while hundreds of her pupils cheered her on. A band made up of her pupils began to play and sing outside the court.

During that trial, Maarohanye had boasted “there are only two real women in South Africa—Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Jackie Maarohanye”.

Magistrate Andre Auret said he had decided to strike the case from the roll because of weak testimony by the reporter and the witnesses.

In the same month she was found not guilty on charges of public violence, malicious damage to property, housebreaking and theft. The charges were that on October 7 last year, Maarohanye led her pupils on a march and barricaded the Old Potchefstroom road in Soweto.—Sapa