SOWETO, SOUTH AFRICA – DECEMBER 18: ANC’s newly elected Deputy President David Mabuza during the announcement of new party leadership at the 54th African National Congress (ANC) national conference at the Nasrec Expo Centre on December 18, 2017 in Soweto, South Africa. As ANC delegates‚ supporters of the two presidential candidates were equally confident that their preferred choice will be announced as the new president of the ANC. The race was between Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Cyril Ramaphosa‚ the only two nominees for the party’s top position. (Photo by Gallo Images / Sowetan / Veli Nhlapo)
Deputy President Mabuza struggles through tough first Q&A in Parliament
Deputy President David Mabuza has now finished facing his first grilling from MPs. Let’s see how well he really fared? One answer made a lot of South Africans very angry.
SOWETO, SOUTH AFRICA – DECEMBER 18: ANC’s newly elected Deputy President David Mabuza during the announcement of new party leadership at the 54th African National Congress (ANC) national conference at the Nasrec Expo Centre on December 18, 2017 in Soweto, South Africa. As ANC delegates‚ supporters of the two presidential candidates were equally confident that their preferred choice will be announced as the new president of the ANC. The race was between Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Cyril Ramaphosa‚ the only two nominees for the party’s top position. (Photo by Gallo Images / Sowetan / Veli Nhlapo)
Deputy President David Mabuza has managed to get through his first parliamentary question and answer session in one piece. While his performance definitely didn’t cause an EFF revolt, it certainly didn’t go smoothly either.
With obvious issues like land expropriation coming up, a few curveballs were also thrown with China, Mduduzi Manana and political killings making their way into the conversation.
While there were quite a few moments to pick out, South Africans reacted with the most anger to Mabuza’s comments on Mduduzi Manana.
Mduduzi Manana was formerly the deputy minister of higher education but later resigned after video footage of him emerged assaulting a woman in a nightclub.
Manana was later convicted and sentenced for assault but remained on as an MP. At the party’s December National Elective Conference, Manana was re-elected onto the National Executive Committee (NEC), the party’s highest decision-making structure.
Mabuza was discussing the abuse of women and children when DA MP Terri Stander asked how his comments can be taken seriously with Manana sitting as an MP.
Mabuza then responded by saying that the ANC believes in rehabilitation.
“With regards to Manana, we believe that people can be corrected… we don’t have a dustbin where we throw people.”
The parliamentary cameras then cut to Manana who could be seen smiling while his Deputy President defended him.
Unsurprisingly, South Africans were furious.
If women are priority, why Mduduzi Manana is still a Member of Parliament?🤷♂️
— Moeketsi Wilfred Mphunye Tupac (@Mokay15_sa) March 20, 2018
DP Mabuza confusing Rehab with Parliament….
— mullerie rabe (@mullerie) March 20, 2018
Hearing women MPs shout their approval of Mdu Manana's presence in the house pic.twitter.com/xC2D7fkpge
— MaNdosi (@SthembileCel) March 20, 2018
Dear South Africa -note that Mduduzi Manana is only not a member of Parliament,he also sits in the @MYANC deployment Committe #MduduziManana @eNCA @lesterkk pic.twitter.com/3kts4KsL6R
— . (@moses_moyo) March 20, 2018
Mabuza is contradicting himself, he says abuse is a violation 2 our constitution yet these abusers like Mañana cn be corrected #MabuzaQandA
— Curvy Queen👑 (@Ntshidilikhethe) March 20, 2018
With EFF Deputy President Floyd Shivambu also getting physical with a journalist outside Parliament, the comparisons were coming in thick and fast.
Hayi hayi the ANC must keep quiet about #FloydShivambu . Y’all still have Manana in your ranks. We cannot take you seriously on this matter. pic.twitter.com/oA3Fp5hmbu
— The Poppy Ntshongwana Show (@PoppyIsMyName) March 20, 2018
@FloydShivambu Mr Chivambu let me remind you that when former deputy Minister of Higher Education Mduduzi Mañana was also involved in a wrestling match you & your EFF colleagues called for his resignation. I think you should now practice what you preach and do the same. #resign
— William Billett (@Williambillett) March 20, 2018
Tonight, I'm in pushing-back mode. Sick of people defending the likes of Mduduzi Manana's women-beating, Floyd assaulting a journo etc. just because they're also black. What bullshit is this? Assault has no colour.
— 🕉️ Clive Simpkins (@clivesimpkins) March 20, 2018
While Mabuza may be #TeamManana, should someone who’s been convicted of assault really still be able to be a minister of Parliament? South Africans don’t seem to think so.
