He was found guilty of the assault but acquitted on a charge of pointing a firearm at Mthatha Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, Eyewitness News reported.
The ruling party MP attacked teacher Mlamli Ngudle, who also accused him of butting him on the head with a gun, during an argument in the streets of Mthatha two years ago.
Magistrate Noluthando Conjwa said there was no evidence to support the firearm accusation.
In court, Mandela had previously admitted to slapping Ngudle in self-defence after he had attacked him.
Under cross-examination, state witness Lwandile Madala said he heard Mandela say to the complainant: “Are you insulting my mother?”, before he retrieved a firearm from his black Toyota cab, the Daily Dispatch reported.
Conjwa today said there were contradictions on both sides, but this did not mean the prosecution’s case would be rejected.
Conjwa said Mandela was “arrogant, argumentative and evasive” during his testimony, adding he had an “exaggerated sense of self”.
The court has adjourned as the defence and state consult with the magistrate over a sentencing date.
In May 2014, Ngudle told the court that since the attack his speech had been affected, and his doctor had put him on leave for several months as he could not cope.