‘More than a slap’: witness says deputy minister trampled woman at nightclub

By STAFF WRITERS

Deputy Higher Education Minister Mduduzi Manana admits to slapping one woman but a journalist who saw the altercation says that is not the whole truth

A witness claims that Deputy Higher Education and Training Minister Mduduzi Manana also trampled and kicked the woman whom he allegedly slapped in a late-night fracas at a northern Joburg nightclub.

Deputy Higher Education and Training Minister Mduduzi Manana. Picture: FREDDY MAVUNDA

Manana appears to admit‚ in a telephone recording that has gone viral‚ to slapping a woman at Cubana in Fourways in the early hours of Sunday morning.

SABC journalist Lumko Jimlongo‚ however‚ said in a televised interview on Monday morning that the altercation involved more than a slap.

Jimlongo‚ who arrived at the club with friends between 2.30am and 3am‚ heard a fracas at a nearby table where the deputy minister was sitting.

Manana‚ he said‚ had struck a woman in a “fit of rage” as she was walking towards the exit. “She fell on the floor and I can honestly not say [whether] she fell because of the blow or she slipped‚” he told SABC news.

“But she fell and then he proceeded to trample — he put his foot‚ he kicked her and then his foot was on her head‚ on her body‚ everywhere‚” he alleged.

He claimed that bouncers at the club just stood and watched.

“Chief‚ you can’t do this‚” Jimlongo told the deputy minister when a group of people tried to intervene while he was “pulling her by the hair while she was still on the floor”.

Manana asked who the hell Jimlongo thought he was.

“He’s being a bit economical with the truth … it did not end with a slap across the face‚” said Jimlongo.

Admission

In a recording obtained by TimesLIVE‚ Manana can be heard speaking to Phesheya Duma‚ the brother of Mandisa Duma.

Mandisa Duma had earlier told TimesLIVE 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.

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

Duma posted pictures on social media of her sporting a black eye‚ swollen face‚ bruised knees and neck. She tagged 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.

“There was a confrontation and a fight but the people who hit them were the guys I was travelling with. When they got to the parking area they (the men) hit them‚” he said.

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 told TimesLIVE.

He said the family was “letting the law take its processes”.

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

The police minister said he had been informed that a case had been opened.

Duma said the case was opened at the Douglasdale police station.

-BusinessLIVE

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