Former deputy minister of higher education and woman beater Mduduzi Manana on Wednesday said he had engaged the services of a therapist as he apologised for his action outside the Randburg Magistrates Court.
“This kind of act ends with me, I had to man up and that’s what a leader does. I made an error and took responsibility,” Manana said while addressing students outside the court who were there in his support.
Earlier in the day, Manana, 34, pleaded guilty to three counts of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Pictures of Mandisa Duma’s beaten face and a video of her being assaulted by Manana at Cubana in Fourways, Johannesburg went viral on social media last month. Her friends Mopipa and Mahlaba were also assaulted by Manana that evening.
Earlier Magistrate Ramsamy Reddy asked Manana whether he heard the charges against him.
“Yes, I plead guilty,” Manana told the court.
In an affidavit read by Michael Motswaneng Bill, for Manana, the politician said the three women joined him and his friends at their table at the nightspot when a debate began. One of the ladies started taking a video of him.
Manana said that Mahlaba uttered the words “who do you think you are s’tabane (derogatory term for gay)” after which he asked who invited the three women to join them. It was at this point he slapped her and pulled her to the ground. A fight broke out before he also assaulted Duma and Mopipa.
Reddy said that the court was satisfied and found Manana guilty.
State prosecutor Anne-Marie Smith requested a postponement for witness impact reports and a correctional supervision report to be used during sentencing proceedings.
Manana is currently out on R5000 bail.
The case was postponed to November 7 for pre-sentencing proceedings..
– African News Agency (ANA)
