Let law take its course – Dlamini

RECORDING SAID TO BE MANANA SURFACES Women’s minister ‘disturbed’ by spat between MP and domestic worker.

Minister in the Presidency responsible for women Bathabile Dlamini has urged ANC MP Mduduzi Manana to abide by the law and allow justice to take its course.

“The public altercation between Ms Wiro and Mr Manana presents a serious cause for concern for a number of reasons,” said Dlamini.

“The allegations of violence have resurfaced against Mr Manana who as a leader, has been entrusted by the public to represent them at parliament ... Such leader must therefore live his life as a living reflection of the aspirations of our constitution.

“At the same time, we are concerned by allegations of extortion levelled against the Wiro family by Mr Manana. We therefore urge all parties involved to submit themselves to law enforcement processes in order for the matter to be addressed by our judicial system.”

Manana is facing growing calls to step down in the wake of assault allegations against him by his domestic worker, Christine Wiro. She alleged that he tried to push her down a flight of stairs for allowing a guest into his Fourways home without checking with him first.

She told police that Manana had previously verbally abused her, made her work long hours and threatened to have her deported back to her home country Zimbabwe. Wiro has been in Manana’s employ for three weeks.

She withdrew the charges on Monday after Manana allegedly offered to pay her R100 000 to drop the case.

Manana has since dismissed the assault claims and the suggestion of a cash offer, saying that he would lay extortion charges against Wiro and her family. He said the fresh assault allegations were a smear campaign, following his conviction in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court for assaulting three women at a Johannesburg nightclub last year. He was consequently fired as deputy minister of higher education.

However, a voice recording has emerged in which Manana is allegedly heard offering Wiro and her family R100 000 in exchange for her dropping assault and crimen injuria charges laid with Douglasdale police over the weekend.

In the recording, a voice can be heard offering Wiro R100 000 as “a consolation” for the embarrassment suffered. – ANA