Support at court for Manana
UNIVERSITY students gathered outside Randburg Magistrate’s Court, where former higher education deputy minister Mduduzi Manana appeared on assault charges, to which he was expected to plead guilty.
Most expressed support for Manana and the woman he is accused of assaulting.
Students in support of Manana wore T-shirts bearing his picture along with a message “#WeAreSorry”.
DA members carried placards written “End Violence Against Women” and “Real men don’t hit women”.
Manana resigned on August 19 after a public storm over his assault of the woman at a nightspot in Fourways, Joburg, earlier in the month.
A video of the incident showing him assaulting the woman and a friend at Cubana restaurant went viral. The woman, identified as Mandisa Duma, laid charges at Douglasdale Police Station.
Manana is out on R5 000 bail.
University of Johannesburg student Brian Matyila said they were in support of both Manana and his alleged victim.
“We feel sorry for the victim and we hold her in our prayers, but we are also aware that Mduduzi Manana is the youngest person to have held such a position and we look up to him.”
Manana is facing two counts of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Matyila said following the incident, students gathered to discuss gender violence and felt it was good that Manana had accepted that he was wrong and that he could be a brand ambassador against patriarchy.
At previous proceedings, Magistrate Liezel Davis ordered that no pictures or videos of Manana could be taken in court.
The matter continues. – ANA