Sir
The Congress of the People welcomes the resignation of Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Mduduzi Manana.
We believe that his resignation is long overdue. However, we view his resignation not as a show or genuine remorse on his part, or because of action by Jacob Zuma, it is the result of unrelenting and growing wave of public pressure against his continued holding of public office. He was forced to fall on his sword.
The likes of Jacob Zuma and Bathabile Dlamini must take note that the people of South Africa take a dim view of their tardy response to a serious scourge of violent abuse perpetrated against women. They are not prepared to tolerate any further abuse, not even for a second. Leaders must set the tone and lead by example by acting expeditiously against such morally reprehensible conduct.
COPE is of the view that the next right step is to request parliament to speedily summon him to the Joint Member’s Ethics Committee to hold him fully accountable and for bringing the institution into disrepute. There must be no place to hide for women bashers like Mduduzi Manana.
Glacier Nkhwashu, COPE spokesperson
