While maintaining her innocence would be proved, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela announced on Friday she would resign from all her official positions in the African National Congress.

"... The dictates of prudence are such as to have me resign my position in Parliament, position in the ANC Women's League, position in the NEC (national executive committee) of the ANC and attendant positions in my party," she said in a statement issued shortly after she was given a sentence that would see her spend at least eight months in prison.

"This is a personal decision but as a member of the ANC I would be remiss if I did not communicate my decision to and confer with everyone, including the leadership of the ANC, as protocol would demand.

"This I will do in the fullness of time."

After pronouncing sentence, Pretoria Regional Court magistrate Peet Johnson granted bail of R10 000 each to Madikizela-Mandela and broker Addy Moolman pending their appeal against their conviction and sentence. Moolman was sentenced to five years' imprisonment in effect.

Madikizela-Mandela said: "It is... responsible, pending the appeal process, that I free my political party to pursue the issues of governance which South Africa is entitled to accomplish."

It was also responsible to have faith in the justice system "that has self-correcting capabilities, which in the fullness of time, will confirm my innocence".

The outcome of the trial offered her an opportunity to refocus her energies and to do what appealed to her inner ideals, Madikizela-Mandela said.

"It has helped me to understand the history of the cause for which I have dedicated my life, to understand the players in the theatre of the struggle and the sacrifice that comes with that cause.

"More importantly it has enhanced my appreciation for the support I continue to enjoy among my fellow South Africans. Their loyalty has remained unstinting and confirms to me that my life, with all its turns, is worth it."

Earlier in the day, police removed two young men from the courtroom who had jumped up and loudly expressed their support for her.

Just as Madikizela-Mandela's counsel, Ishmael Semenya, was about to start arguing in mitigation of sentence, a former University of the Witwatersrand student, who calls himself Malcolm X, jumped up in the public gallery.

"You are the ANC, Mama! I'll die with you, Mama!" he shouted.

Even while police were taking him by the arms and removing him from court, he continued: "I'm nothing but your tiny servant! Malcolm X will continue to support you!"

He is facing charges himself for allegedly taking a Wits employee hostage earlier this year because he was refused re-admission to the university. At the time, Madikizela-Mandela's negotiations resulted in the woman being set free.

The door had scarcely closed with a senior police officer hissing to other members to lock him up, when another young man jumped up at the other side of the room.

"Malcolm X is right!" he said. "You are a casualty of the revolution. This is just a ritual attack. We will fight left, right and centre."

Police removed the second man from the court.

Johnson then warned that anybody interrupting the proceedings would be arrested.

In her statement, Madikizela-Mandela said: "The ANC is my home, its ideals are my passion and its endeavours to make South Africa a just society is a cause that I will not relinquish. I will remain a dedicated, committed and loyal member of the ANC.

"I intend to spend my time henceforth to do the work that I started in my early life and to bind my destiny with everyone with whom I share the ideals of a just South Africa."

She was convinced the truth about the past and the correctness of the future of her country would "rise beyond the political expediency of the moment."

She would heed advise not to comment on the merits of the case, but to leave that to the legal process, Madikizela-Mandela said.

With acknowledgements to Erika de Beer and Sapa.