Manana To Appear In Court This Week

"It's up to him if he co-operates with police or if he doesn't, we will find him."
Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula looks on during a media briefing in Johannesburg.Photo: REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko
Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula looks on during a media briefing in Johannesburg.Photo: REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko
Siphiwe Sibeko / Reuters

Deputy higher education minister Mduduzi Manana is set to appear in court this week, police minister Fikile Mbalula told News24.

Manana is accused of allegedly assaulting a woman at the Cubana restaurant in Johannesburg.

"I can confirm right now he has been notified to appear in court and follow all due process."

Mbalula said as Manana was well known, he did not consider him to be a flight risk.

"It's up to him if he co-operates with police or if he doesn't, we will find him," Mbalula warned.

He said Manana could appear in court on Thursday, but could not say in which court he was due to appear.

The minister spoke to News24 during a visit to a Khayelitsha family whose daughter went missing and was later found dead after allegedly being beaten.

Shocking video footage showing the woman being attacked also surfaced.

Manana has since apologised for the incident saying that he was provoked.

Mbalula, however, said the victim was genuine and the police acted swiftly to protect the victim.

He insisted that police were close to concluding their investigations.

"His case has been followed up. Nobody is above the law."

The alleged assault has been widely condemned by political leaders with some calling for his immediate arrest.

President Jacob Zuma was one of the political heads who spoke out against Manana.

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