South Africa’s former deputy minister of higher education, Mduduzi Manana has been sentenced to pay a fine of R100‚000‚ or face 12 months in prison, after he pleaded guilty of

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Mduduzi Manana had been accused of hitting Mandisa Duma‚ Noluthando Mahlaba and Thina Mopipa at a restaurant in Fourways‚ north of Johannesburg during a debate about who should succeed President Jacob Zumah. He admitted to the offence and apoligised to the victims and the country as a whole.

However, the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday ordered the former minister to pay a combination of R5014,20 fee for the first victim, R20 263,43 for the second victim and R1403, 92 for the third and also the R100 00.

As part of the sentence, Magistrate, Ramsamy Reddy ruled that the former deputy minister will report at 8:00 am for an anger rehabilitation programme‚ which starts on Tuesday. He was also ordered to perform 500 hours of community service.

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According to buzzsouthafrica.com, Mduduzi Manana was convicted of three counts of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm after pleading guilty to the charges on September 13.