Johannesburg - The Randburg Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, sentenced the two co-accused of the former deputy minister Mduduzi Manana to pay a R30 000 fine or spend eight months in prison, half suspended for five years.
"The offence is serious in nature," Magistrate Saras Naidoo said while handing down her sentence.
Cyril Madonsela, 35, and Thulani Mdaka, 42, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm after they hit Mandisa Duma and Noluthando Mahlaba at Cubana restaurant in Fourways in August.
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Naidoo said both the women were unarmed and harmless and read out the clinical findings and the injuries that were incurred by Duma and Mahlaba.
As part of the recommendations of the social worker, Madonsela and Mdaka would need to undergo anger management, decision making and substance abuse programmes.
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"Both are first offenders and are remorseful and contribute meaningfully to their families...direct imprisonment would be too harsh and not suitable."
Naidoo said a fine of R3000 would be too lenient and wouldn't send an adequate message to the public.
The sentencing comes a day after the 16 days of activism against Women and Children Abuse resumed.
On Monday the defence councils of Madonsela and Mdaka asked Magistrate Naidoo for a R3000 fine or three months imprisonment or a R6000 fine with a suspended sentence.