South African minister resigns over assault charges

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) - A South African deputy minister has resigned for assaulting a woman at a nightclub in Johannesburg two weeks ago.

In a short statement issued Saturday, President Jacob Zuma’s Office confirmed that the president had received and accepted the resignation of Mduduzi Manana, deputy minister of higher education.

"The President has thanked Mr. Manana for his contribution to the work of government during his term of office," the statement said.

The former minister had admitted assaulting Mandisa Duma at a nightclub on Aug. 6 and apologized for the incident.

"I wish to apologize unreservedly to Ms. Mandisa Duma, her family, the government of South Africa and all South Africans, and women in particular, for the incident that happened at Cubana Restaurant in Fourways [district] over the weekend,” he said in a statement a day after the incident.

Manana said he had "slapped" Duma after she called him "gay" during a dispute at the club.

Duma, posted images, allegedly of her swollen face, a black eye, bruised knees and neck on Twitter creating outrage among users, who called for the sacking of the deputy minister.

Manana will soon face a disciplinary hearing by the ruling African National Congress (ANC) on the issue.