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The Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Mduduzi Manana, sauntered into court after a request was made to hand himself over for his bail hearing. Since when are those accused politely requested to attend a court hearing? Dressed all dapper in a royal blue tailored suit, he was granted R5000 bail pending further appearances in court for his violent assault against a women in a night club over the weekend.
The usual array of spectators and journalists were present. The ANC Women’s League was however, conspicuously absent.
The ANCWL has always been a vocal and strong force regarding women’s rights in South Africa. We have seen this by the countless protests by members of the ANCWL outside various court appearances of those accused of femicide and of women abuse.
We have witnessed many times before and most recently on Tuesday 8th August 2017, where the ANC has put the ANC first and South African second. By voting in support of ZUMA in the VONC, those ANC MP’s effectively chose the ANC first and South Africa and her people second.
From the list below, it seems the ladies in yellow and green will take action against any crimes committed against women in South Africa. I commend them for this. However, their conspicuous absence at the bail hearing of one of their own today, is once again indicative of the ANC’s policy to put party first and country and citizens second.
August 2016 – ANCWL protest outside courts during the trial of Johannes Ratshilingana accused of murdering his wife.
March 2017 – ANCWL protests outside the court during the Oscar Pistorius trial.
April 2017 – ANCWL protests outside court during the bail application for Pastor Tim Omotoso accused of two counts of human trafficking.
August 2017 – ANCWL protest outside Khayelitsha court demanding that bail be denied for 3 accused of gouging out a 23 year old females eyes. ANCWL secretary demands that bail should be denied for all perpetrators of women abuse.
August 2014 – ANCWL protest outside Western Cape High Court in support of Anni Dewani who was allegedly murdered by her husband while on honeymoon in South Africa.
December 2015 – ANCWL led by their Deputy President Jacqui Mofokeng, join supporters in march for murdered school teacher, Jade Panayiotou who was allegedly murdered by a hit man under instruction from her husband.
June 2017 – ANCWL protests outside the Mamelodi Magistrates Court in support of Eva Lindiwe Sangweni who was allegedly hacked to death in front of her 4 year old daughter. ANCWL Regional Secretary who led the march was quoted as saying “police must take women and the issues of women seriously”
March 2014 – ANCWL protest outside the Pretoria High Court during the sentencing of Thato Kutumela who was found guilty of murdering a pregnant young women.
May 2017 – ANCWL, led by ANCWL President Bathabile Dlamini, visits the family of murdered young women, Karabo Mokoena. Dlamini condemns violence against women and has urged police and government to place harsher sentences on those convicted of women abuse crimes.
So my message to the ANCWL is this – if you are going to be against women abuse and violence against women, may I suggest that you take up action against ALL forms of abuse, ALL the time and not only when it suits your agenda.
Are you going to protect one of your own accused of a violent attack against a women in Women’s Month? Are you going to put your party first and South Africa second as you usually do? Or are you going to stand up for the victim, regardless of the perpetrator? I expect to see you out in full force at The Deputy Ministers next court hearing.
