A video allegedly showing the Deputy Higher Education
Minister Mduduzi Manana assault incident at a club in Johannesburg has surfaced
online.
The video comes after Manana admitted to slapping a woman,
Mandisa Duma, following an altercation in which Duma allegedly called him gay.
The incident happened at Cubana in Fourways in the early
hours of Sunday morning.
Speaking out on the incident was Phesheya Duma, Mandisa's
brother, who related the event to Talk 702 host Xolani Gwala.
"We were at Cubana with our family, with the deputy
minister seated at one of the tables next to us," Phesheya said.
"It was quite cordial for most of the evening and at
about 8, we began to interact with him on the current politics of the
country."
Phesheya then explained that things were fine until his
family, bar his sisters, decided to leave. His sisters decided to stay on and
at around 3am, an argument ensued between the two women and Manana.
Manana then allegedly slapped one of the woman and then
following them out to the parking lot, after the women left, where he and his
friend continued to assault them.
Commenting on Manana's allegation that one of the sisters
called him gay, Phesheya said this was no justification for the assault.
"There was a comment on [his sexuality] but I cannot
say that was enough reason to assault someone all the way to the parking
lot," he said.
Police ministry spokesperson Vuyo Mhaga has since confirmed
that a case of assault was opened at the Douglasdale Police Station.
"Last night, we finally tracked down at which police
station the case was opened and we found out that it was at Douglasdale... and
we can confirm that a case was opened," Mhaga said.
Mhaga added that the case would be treated as any other
ordinary case and that the statement would be taken from the deputy minister.
Police Minister Fikile Mbalula's office also spoke out on
matter, saying the minister noted the allegations against the deputy minister.
"Minister Mbalula take these allegations very serious.
[The] protection of women and vulnerable groups are a number one priority of
the police ministry.
"Women deserve love and protection from all of us. The
police must be given space to investigate this case without fear or favor, no
one is above the law irrespective of their position in Society." Mbalula
added.
The ANC and women's league have since spoken out, with the
ANC saying it was disappointed to learn of the reported incident.
"Such behavior is unacceptable and should be roundly
condemned by all in our society, regardless of the circumstances or the
identity of the perpetrator or victim," spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said in a
statement.
"The African National Congress calls upon our law
enforcement agencies to act without fear or favor to investigate these
allegations and bring the perpetrators to book." IOL
— Tumi Sole (@tumisole) August 7, 2017
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