File: Higher Education Deputy Minister Mduduzi Manana has apologised to the women.
JOHANNESBURG - No live visuals will be allowed in former deputy higher education minister Mduduzi Manana&39;s sentencing, the Randburg Magistrate&39;s Court ruled on Wednesday.
Magistrate Ramsamy Reddy refused the media’s application to cover sentencing but said journalists could reapply.
EXCLUSIVE: Victim of alleged assault by deputy minister Manana speaks
The disgraced public servant has pleaded guilty to two counts of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after assaulting two women at a Fourways nightclub in August. A video of the incident emerged on social media.
Manana resigned shortly after the incident and at the same time issued a public apology on video.
WATCH: Mduduzi Manana resigns
The state further revealed that the former deputy minister had two previous convictions of theft dating back to 2004 and 2005, including one charge for stealing a can of cooldrink.
Prosecutor Anne-Marie Smith gave the court documentary evidence of Manana’s previous convictions.
Manana, at the time, paid a R500 admission of guilty fine for stealing the can of Coke and in his defence, he said he simply “forgot” to pay for the Coke.
The former deputy minister says he has shown remorse, was working on his “anger management” and wants to meet his victims.
He says he takes full responsibility for his actions and is not seeking a lenient sentence.
The incident sparked a debate about gender-based violence and the manner in which high-profile cases are handled in South Africa.
VIDEO: Manana guilty of assault GBH
"I am going to reach out to victims, their families and apologise to them and many people have accepted my apology," Manana said.
