NPA declines to prosecute Manana over ‘assault’
Former deputy education minister Mduduzi Manana will not be prosecuted for allegedly assaulting his domestic worker.
“Basically, there are no prospects for success‚” National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said on Monday.
“The version of an independent eye-witness who was allegedly present at the scene does not corroborate the version of the complainant.”
In a recording revealed in May, Manana was heard pleading with his domestic worker‚ saying he would do anything to make the case go away.
In the conversation‚ recorded under a tree at Johannesburg’s Douglasdale police station, where Christine Wiro had opened a case of assault against Manana‚ he is heard speaking in a soft tone‚ begging Wiro to tell the station commander she was not pursuing the case.
He says in the recording: “Please. Ngiyanicela [please] . . . I’m saying‚ just for any consolation‚ just to take care of umama for what she feels is humiliation‚ I can give a consolation to her.
“The money she needs‚ the money she was earning. I can give her consolation to take care of her health‚ of her family. At least a hundred.
“Look‚ mama‚ I know that you worked just for two weeks but I am willing‚ just for humiliation‚ to give that consolation.
“Then we can still continue with our relationship.”
Manana later turned the tables‚ saying the audio clip showed that Wiro was attempting to extort R100‚000 from him.
“This is after they said to me: ‘What are you going to do for us?’
“So I said: ‘Well‚ I am willing but let us ensure that this case is done away with’,” he said.
Wiro said at the time she had opened a case of assault and crimen injuria against Manana after they had an argument and he allegedly pushed her down the stairs. –