Jackie Phamotse set to return to court sentencing

JOHANNESBURG - Controversial author Jackie Phamotse is set to return to the Randburg Magistrates Court on Tuesday for sentencing.

She was found guilty of criminal defamation, crimen injuria and contempt of court in 2023.

The charges relate to comments Phamotse made on Twitter in 2018 about former Miss South Africa and entrepreneur Basetsana Kumalo and her husband, businessman Romeo.

The comments in question relate to an alleged sex tape involving the Kumalos and a young rapper that prompted the couple to secure a protection order against Phamotse.

In court, Phamotse’s position was that there was no truth to the comments and that she posted them as part of her writing process. Nonetheless, she was convicted in June.

After multiple postponements, sentencing proceedings were scheduled for earlier in February, but they were then postponed again, this time until Tuesday, on the back of a request from Phamotse’s legal team.

This is for the conclusion of a social worker’s report.