Deputy minister Mdu Manana admits to slapping woman in club altercation

Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Mduduzi Manana has admitted to slapping a woman in a club in Fourways‚ in the north of Johannesburg.

Mandisa Duma had earlier said that she and two other women were hit by Manana and his friends after a debate about who should replace President Jacob Zuma at the ANC’s elective conference in December.

“He (Manana) felt strongly about Cyril Ramaphosa and we felt strongly about another candidate. He started getting angry and wanted to make a speech‚” Duma said.

Duma‚ who was accompanied by her female cousin and a friend‚ claimed she was with Manana and his four friends inside the then already closed Cubana in Cedar Square‚ Fourways‚ in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Duma said her cousin took out a cellphone and tried to record Manana‚ who was making his point on the debate‚ before all hell broke loose.

Deputy education minister accused of slapping women in ANC leadership debate

“His (Manana’s) friend said that she must stop taking the video. Manana then ordered my cousin to stop taking the video. He then flipped and said: ‘In fact‚ who are you people and why are you here?’ and ordered us to leave.”

She alleged‚ as they were walking out‚ Manana slapped her cousin across the face before also turning on her in the parking lot.

Duma posted pictures of her sporting a black eye‚ swollen face‚ bruised knees and neck on social media‚ tagging the Sunday Times newspaper and Police Minister Fikile Mbalula’s Twitter accounts on her posts‚ which were shared by several other users.

In the recording‚ Manana confirms the incident‚ saying he had slapped one of the women‚ Duma. He admits this twice‚ speaking in Zulu.

He denied following the women to the parking area of Cubana.

Phesheya Duma‚ who made the recording‚ confirmed its authenticity but said he was unhappy with its publication.

In the recording Phesheya threatens Manana‚ saying he could easily find out where he lives.

“I was obviously very angry. What is important is what he did‚” he said.

He added that the family was “letting the law takes its processes”.

Manana initially responded to a call from TimesLIVE but after the line was cut he did not respond to further attempts to contact him.

Mbalula confirmed that the incident took place but said he was “still gathering facts” about it. He said Manana would not be given special treatment.