Power of one
We can all help frame the bully boys, abusers
EVERYONE has a phone in their pocket – giving tremendous power to the average citizen. So warn social media specialists as a slew of video clips made the news this week, topped by the appearance of Deputy Minister for Higher Education Mduduzi Manana in court on serious assault charges after admitting to hitting a woman, Mandisa Duma, in the early hours of Sunday morning after an argument at the Cubana restaurant in Fourways, Johannesburg. It is alleged Manana flew into a rage when Duma called him “gay”, with video footage of the assault showing a vicious altercation.
Manana was released on bail of R5 000 amid calls for President Jacob Zuma to sack him. With the country celebrating Women’s Month, civil society and even his own party, the ANC, have been quick to condemn Manana, with National Police Minister Fikile Mbalula stating the law will take its course.
In a different incident, widely shared on social media, a video clip of a boy beating up a girl in a Durban school sparked public outrage and galvanised education officials to track down the victim and alleged perpetrator yesterday.
KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education spokesperson Kwazi Mthethwa confirmed last night that education officials visited the Siyathuthuka High School in Inanda yesterday morning to speak to school management about the violent attack. Education officials and the girl’s family opened up a case of assault yesterday afternoon.
“We found that when the incident happened in November last year, it was very poorly handled. We will now start investigations from scratch,” said Mthethwa.
He said KZN Education MEC Mthandeni Dlungwane mandated his rapid response task team to handle investigations into the incident.
In the video, the boy kicks and hits the schoolgirl, who tried to cover herself from the blows. Another pupil comes into the scene, but was not able to stop the boy.
The girl is then seen stumbling away, holding the wall for support and putting on a shoe that came off.
The boy is believed to be about 17 years of age and has moved to another school in KwaMashu.
“We will have a team of legal experts, security personnel and social workers all working on this case. We condemn this type of behaviour,” said Mthethwa.
SAPS KZN spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Thulani Zwane confirmed a charge of assault had been opened.
Further proof that you can’t escape the camera came with the release of video footage of two groups of Durban golfers and officials caught in a confrontation. The punch-up video went viral.
The incident happened after a group of male golfers allegedly started swearing at female players from the Pink Ladies Golf School after their game was being held up at Athlone Club. When club officials arrived to assist the women, it ended in fisticuffs.
The club has distanced itself from the altercation.