Request for open session of Joint Committee

Almost two months after former deputy higher education and training minister Mduduzi Manana was found guilty of three counts of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, after assaulting three women on 6 August 2017, Sonke Gender Justice (‘Sonke’) notes with extreme disappointment that he remains a Member of Parliament. Sonke calls for the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests meeting considering complaints calling for Mduduzi Manana’s dismissal, to be held on 1 November 2017, to be opened to the public. Given that Mr Manana, as one of the very individuals elected to be a leader in this democracy has perpetuated such violence, and in particular, against women, in flagrant disregard for the law of South Africa, we submit that the public should be privy to the decision-making process of the Joint Committee into whether appropriate sanctions will be taken against Mduduzi Manana.