Manana ‘forced to fall on his sword’

QUITTING as Higher Education and Training deputy minister, Mduduzi Manana again apologised yesterday for his shameful attack on a woman.

But activists continue to call for him to be jailed, adding to the pressure he has been under for two weeks since the incident came to public attention.

While it is not yet clear who will replace him, the ANC joined other parties in welcoming his decision to resign.

Opposition parties said he fell on his sword after the ANC failed to remove him. They said public pressure played a role in forcing him to quit.

Manana, who trended on social media for much of yesterday, said he regretted the actions that led to his arrest and appearance in court.

He said he would work hard to ensure he did not commit such an offence again. He also said he would behave better and what had transpired in the early hours of that Sunday morning at a Johannesburg nightclub was regrettable – that he should have conducted himself better as a leader in government.

Manana also wrote that he was heart-broken by what he had done. He said his conduct was unjustifiable and there were no words to describe his poor leadership when the government had entrusted him with responsibility.

“There is no excuse in the world to ever justify what I have done and, as much as I am completely and utterly shameful of the act, it’s not even about me,” he said.

“It is about all the women of our nation who go through abuse daily at the hands of men, people who should lead them and protect them,” said Manana.

Without mentioning anger management by name, he said he had sought professional help to improve his behaviour.

“Going forward, I have started seeking professional help so that I emerge as a stronger and improved person.

“I have to deal with this problem so that I can continue serving my people as an effective member and leader of our community in every way.

“I further undertake to offer all assistance possible to the families I did wrong to and, again, I am sorry. I will act dutifully and diligently with all law enforcement agencies who assist with the matter,” he said.

DA spokesperson on higher education, Belinda Bozzoli, said if the ANC had been concerned about protecting women, it would have fired Manana immediately after the incident.

“That he was not fired immediately speaks volumes about how seriously the ANC views woman abuse, which is rife in our society in part because leaders are not held to account for their actions.”

She also accused ANC Women’s League President Bathabile Dlamini of defending Manana last week.

Cope said Manana’s resignation was long overdue.

It accused the ANC and Zuma of failing to act swiftly to remove Manana from the position after the incident.

Cope said Manana resigned due to public pressure. “He was forced to fall on his sword,” it said.