A local government official who led an anti-abuse campaign against women and children has been found guilty of beating up a 65-year-old woman.
Chris Ferndale was charged with common assault after attacking the mother of his daughter’s boyfriend on Boxing Day in 2017.
On Friday, he was slapped with a two-year jail sentence in the Wynberg Magistrate's Court, which was wholly suspended for three years.
He is also banned from ever owning a firearm.
Ferndale is a poet and founding member of the Cape Cultural Collective.
He is also the manager of public participation at provincial Parliament, and arranged a 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children programme in Parliament in 2016.
VICTIM: Theresa Graner. Photo: Supplied
The State proved that on 26 December 2017, Ferndale beat Theresa Graner, 65, after she tried to get him to move his car as he was blocking her driveway.
Ferndale walked up to the defenceless elderly woman, who was wearing her seatbelt, and pulled her hair and beat her with his fists. She ended up in hospital.
On Monday, Theresa told the Daily Voice she has been severely traumatised by the attack.
“It has been the worst 18 months of my life. I have had to receive trauma counselling by a psychologist,” she said.
“It affected me in such a way that I had panic attacks and asthma attacks.”
She said Ferndale showed no remorse and was arrogant during court proceedings, leading her to believe that he had “no moral compass”.
“I was hoping for a more stringent sentence, but I was happy that he was found guilty and that he has a suspended sentence.”
genevieve.serra@inl.co.za