Gauteng police say they are proceeding with the investigation into the assault case against ANC Member of Parliament and former Higher Education Minister Mduduzi Manana.
His domestic worker had opened a case of assault against him on Sunday but later withdrew it. An audio recording has surfaced believed to be Manana allegedly offering to pay the woman R100 000 to drop the charges.
However, Manana has refuted the claims. Instead he says the domestic worker asked her for R100 000 to drop the case. He’s asked his lawyer to file a legal suit against the woman.
“The investigation is going on. On instruction from the NPA. In such cases especially gender based violence and crimes against women and children, even if the victim chooses to withdraw the case fro whichever reason. It is the responsibility of the police to still submit the docket to the NPA for a decision. The decision to prosecute or not to prosecute lies with the prosecution authority,” said Gauteng police spokesperson Mmathapelo Peters.
Parliament’s Ethics Committee to investigate Manana
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the National Assembly Baleka Mbete has called on Parliament’s Joint Ethics Committee to investigate the latest allegations of physical violence against Mr. Manana.
In a statement, Mbete has welcomed the National Prosecuting Authority’s investigation into the allegation that the domestic worker has lodged and says she hopes for its speedy conclusion.
Last year, Manana was convicted of assault for beating up two women at a night club for referring to him as gay. He was sentenced to a fine of 100 thousand rand or 12 months in jail, to complete a rehabilitation programme and to carry out 500 hours of community service.
The Speaker has commended the police for exercising of their responsibility to continue the investigation despite Manana’s domestic worker dropping the complaint she initially laid.
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