The destiny of deployed ANC cadre Vuyo Mhlakaza-Manamela, deputy speaker of the Gauteng legislature who faces fees of assault with intention to inflict grievous bodily hurt and crimen injuria on a police officer, hinge on the upcoming Gauteng celebration coverage convention.
Among a number of coverage positions to be debated and adopted by delegates subsequent week is the controversially utilized step apart rule for rogue celebration members charged with felony actions.
Mhlakaza-Manamela’s case is one among first high-profile personal prosecution-driven instances to implicate a senior chief within the province.
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The case arises from her alleged assault on SA Police Protection and Security Services sergeant Lizzy Mojapelo, which was withdrawn a yr in the past by National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) senior prosecutors who declined to take motion on the premise that “matter would be difficult to prosecute because the suspect is a very high-profile person”.
Mhlakaza-Manamela is married to Buti Manamela, SA Communist Party central committee member and better schooling and coaching deputy minister.
Conceding the applying of the step-aside rule on members dealing with felony fees had developed, Gauteng ANC secretary Thembinkosi Nciza mentioned he anticipated the upcoming celebration provincial coverage convention to undertake an unambiguous place.
The about-turn determination to prosecute Mhlakaza-Manamela adopted action by AfriForum’s private prosecution unit, which wrote to the NPA’s Gauteng director, advocate Andrew Chauke.
The NPA responded: “Having studied the contents of the docket, your request for a nolle prosequi certificates and the report of the related senior public prosecutor, this workplace is glad there’s a prima facie case towards Nomvuyo Mhlakaza-Manamela and the matter shouldn’t have been withdrawn towards her.
“This office has issued an instruction to the chief prosecutor that Mhlakaza-Manamela must be prosecuted on charges of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm and crimen injuria. The senior public prosecutor who withdrew the matter has been reprimanded.”
Head of AfriForum’s personal prosecution unit advocate Gerrie Nel mentioned: “This is a victory for the principle of equality before the law.”
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“We will ensure politicians are not sheltered from prosecution. I want to compliment advocate Chauke and his office for his willingness to accept that a mistake was made.”
The alleged assault happened in February 2020 on the residence of Mhlakaza-Manamela and her husband.
Mojapelo alleged that Mhlakaza-Manamela was in a “drunken fit of rage” and severely assaulted her.
She additionally alleged that her police superiors annoyed her efforts to open a case.
A medical examination confirmed Mojapelo sustained a number of accidents and was 11 weeks pregnant on the time.
She had vaginal bleeding and had to obtain therapy to safeguard her being pregnant.
