“We want him to be reinstated. He is remorseful and he changed the tertiary education system for us,” was what student supporters told City Press outside the Randburg Magistrates’ Court today, before Mduduzi Manana arrived for his scheduled sentencing.
The sentencing has been postponed till tomorrow.
Manana’s lawyer, Michael Motsoeneng Bill, said that he had only received the correctional supervision report this morning, and the probational officer report on Monday, and didn’t have the proper opportunity to go through the two reports.
He requested that the matter be postponed to Wednesday, which the magistrate granted.
Manana, who was convicted on three counts of assault and attempt to do grievous bodily harm on September 16, told the media today that he was “remorseful”.
“I have taken responsibility but I do want justice to be delivered, especially to the victims,” Manana said.
Meanwhile his supporters felt that due to his remorse, the country should forgive him and reinstate him because of the “great work” he did.
“Long live, long live!” was one of the chants the students were saying.
RT @the_pixelat0r: #MduduziManana supporters arriving at Randburg Magistrates' Court where he will be sentenced pic.twitter.com/0zLcRUwsgr
— City Press Online (@City_Press) November 7, 2017
RT @the_pixelat0r: #MduduziManana supporters being told to leave the premises and picket outside pic.twitter.com/fI8wymoi4H
— City Press Online (@City_Press) November 7, 2017
Manana arrived wearing a brown suit with a green tie and appeared to be in high spirits.
He smiled as he greeted the media and entered the court building.
Also appearing on charges of assault at the same court was actor and former Top Billing presenter Tumiso Masha.
#TumishoMasha waiting to appear in court, steps away from where #MduduziManana is also due to appear for his sentencing pic.twitter.com/qQPIUmYJpv
— #CountryDuty (@the_pixelat0r) November 7, 2017
Masha appeared on charges of assault and malicious intent to property reinstated by his estranged wife Zozibini Mtongana.
Mtongana reinstated the charges after having withdrawn them earlier.
Masha and Mtongana reportedly had an altercation that turned violent in 2016 when the initial charges against him were laid.
“Men need to realise that being bitter and looking to retaliate is not the way to respond to an abuse accusation. We need to trust the law.
“I might find myself in a situation where I am representing all the men that have been accused and are innocent,” he said in an interview with TshisaLive last month.
Mtongana posted on Instagram in response, saying she endured all kinds of abuse from Masha.
“I was in a relationship, a marriage, where I entertained abuse at all levels.
“I accepted a husband who would break me down in front of my baby, my family, his family, his friends and in public.
“I stayed with someone who would tell me in front of our baby girl that he was my biggest achievement in life and that no one can protect me from him,” she wrote.
Masha’s case was also postponed after he appeared.