Mduduzi Manana urged to ... ‘Just do the right thing’
Protesters call on deputy minister to quit as he appears in court for assault case Mbalula reassures nation he is not getting special treatment
The SAPS wanted to first put together a watertight case against Mduduzi Manana before arresting him following allegations of assaulting a female patron at a popular Johannesburg nightspot at the weekend. This was according to Police Minister Fikile Mbalula‚ who yesterday dismissed public concerns that Manana was enjoying special treatment. This after the police failed to arrest him immediately after assault allegations against him first surfaced on Sunday night, with charges laid the next day. Mbalula also said police did not immediately lock up Manana because they knew he was not a flight risk and could not hide from the law. Addressing the media in parliament‚ Mbalula said the assault was the work of a “clan of men who joined to exchange masculine punches with a woman” outside an establishment which was “well outside of” its legal liquor trading hours. And despite Manana being allowed to hand himself over to police rather than being arrested‚ and being ushered into court through a back door for his first court appearance‚ Mbalula insisted the deputy minister‚ whom he referred to on a first-name basis, would not be treated “with kid gloves”. Mbalula said arrest was “not a form of punishment” and Manana was not a man “caught in the moment who needs to be restrained and arrested”. Questioned about the apparent special treatment in court‚ Mbalula said: “I wouldn’t know about that. At the end of the day‚ he must appear in court‚ whether he goes through a front door or a back door.”