The Cape Town Magistrate's Court sentenced Sibusiso Nkomiyahlaba (26) on Wednesday to 18 months in jail, which was wholly suspended for four years on condition he not commit a similar offence, the Cape Argus reported on Thursday.
According to the report, he was also sentenced to 50 hours of community service and ordered to complete a life skills programme and anger management course.
What was supposed to have been a tribute to one of the ANC's former presidents in February last year, quickly degenerated into chaos, with chairs flying, a journalist assaulted and police having to intervene as ANC Youth League members disrupted President Jacob Zuma's address in Cape Town.
From the start of the programme, while ANC Western Cape secretary Songezo Mjongile made introductions, about 300 youths started singing but soon stopped.
Zuma was speaking at the Good Hope Centre, near the Cape Town city centre, on the night of February 23 when he was heckled. Fistfights broke out and chairs were thrown. One of those injured in the ruckus was SABC cameraman Rudi le Roux, who had to have stitches to his left eye.
'Zuma, where's Juju?'
Despite his absence, now expelled youth league president Julius Malema remained at the centre of the proceedings as league members sang: "Zuma uph' uJuju, hayi asiphelelanga" (Zuma, where's Juju? We are incomplete).
Zuma and a number of ANC leaders later apologised for the chaos caused by the league members and pledged to deal with them sternly.
The president said: "The party has to address the question of ill discipline, which has become a common theme, which wasn't there during the days of the struggle against apartheid".
"For a long time, the ANC has been understanding and allowed people to cross the line using ANC platforms. But now we will take stern measures … We'll now deal with the people without fear or favour," said Zuma.
The provincial ANC leadership suspended Nkomiyahlaba's party membership for five years in May last year.
This sanction, however, was suspended on condition he not be found guilty of the same misconduct.
He and three others were instructed by the ANC to perform community service and attend compulsory political education school. – Sapa
Additional reporting by Andisiwe Makinana