ANC Women’s League president Bathabile Dlamini has defended Deputy Minister of Higher Education Mduduzi Manana following his assault on two women last weekend — saying there were other senior government leaders who were worse culprits‚ the newspaper reports.

In an interview with the Sunday Times‚ Dlamini said the women’s league would not call for Manana’s removal from government as the attack was being used as a political tool.

Dlamini’s stance flies in the face of the aims and objectives of the league‚ which are to “campaign for an end to all forms of violence against women‚ children and other vulnerable groups” and to champion women’s rights‚ the newspaper said.

Asked if the league would call on President Jacob Zuma to act against Manana after he was charged this week with assaulting the woman‚ Dlamini said action must be taken against other leaders first.

“Don’t start from him‚” she said. “If we want to say everyone who occupies a senior position in government‚ we must know his track record. Because there are those that are actually worse than him."

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