Manana is released on R5 000 bail

FOUR days after the Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training was accused of assaulting three women‚ he appeared in court yesterday and was granted bail of R5 000.

Mduduzi Manana‚ 33‚ appeared in the Randburg Magistrate’s court on two charges of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Minister of Police Fikile Mbalula told the media yesterday that police wanted to first put together a watertight case before arresting him. The allegations surfaced on Sunday night, with the charges laid the next day.

He said the assault was the work of a “clan of men who joined to exchange masculine punches with a woman” outside of an establishment which was “well outside of” its legal liquor trading hours.

Manana issued a press statement on Monday admitting to the assault.

A second report of an assault in Ermelo in July, also after a night in a bar, later emerged.

On Sunday morning the deputy minister lost his cool after an argument on who should succeed President Jacob Zuma at the party’s elective conference in December.

But what allegedly triggered the attack on the women – part of which was filmed by a journalist – was when one of them apparently made a comment about his sexuality‚ labelling him gay. Three men can be seen dragging a women down as she tries to get up while bouncers stand by in the 14-second video clip.

One victim‚ Mandisa Duma‚ opened a case of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm at the Douglasdale police station the same day. He will appear again in court on September 13. — DDC