BLUE LIGHT BULLIES
Eight VIP protection officers suspended after Gauteng highway assault
SAPS has suspended the eight police officers caught on video assaulting three people on the N1 between Johannesburg and Pretoria.
The eight police officers involved in the N1 assault case in Gauteng have been suspended in terms of SAPS disciplinary regulations as of Monday, 10 July, SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe announced.
“The SAPS wishes not to discuss the matter further,” said Mathe in a brief statement.
Daily Maverick understands that the officers will continue to receive full pay and benefits while on suspension.
The officers are members of the SAPS Protection and Security Services programme attached to the protection detail of Deputy President Paul Mashatile.
They were caught on video by a motorist who filmed the attack on three people on the N1 highway between Johannesburg and Pretoria. The video depicts armed members of the unit — who were driving a black BMW — dragging a man to the edge of the highway before punching and kicking him on the ground.
The video also shows another man who appears to be lying unconscious on the side of the road.
Hours after the video went viral on social media, Mashatile’s office confirmed that members of his protection unit had allegedly been involved in the incident.
Mashatile was not present at the time, according to his spokesperson Vukani Mde.
Read more in Daily Maverick: Get beat up, the beloved country — SA’s men in high castles will not change anything
It was later revealed that the victims were trainees at the South African National Defence Force.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate is investigating allegations of assault against the officers.
Read more in Daily Maverick: Ipid to probe vicious assault on motorists by Paul Mashatile’s security unit as rage ignites across SA
Community safety director for civil society organisation Action Society, Ian Cameron, complained that while the officers were suspended they were still enjoying their employment benefits. “Holiday much?” he tweeted. “We will continue to call for their arrest! If it were you or I, we would be begging for bail. The fact that they pointed firearms is already an arrestable offence. We have called for charges of attempted murder, malicious damage to property, intimidation and assault GBH to be investigated.”
The organisation has started a petition to call for the banning of blue lights for ministers.
3/3
We say ban the #BlueLightMafia! These so called leaders aren’t above citizens and the so called cops are criminals! Make sure you sign the petition to ban them: https://t.co/52Jt43gmjY— Ian Cameron (@IanCameron23) July 10, 2023
Experts recently told Daily Maverick that the officers were likely to get off lightly.
Read more in Daily Maverick: ‘Problem officers’ in Mashatile’s VIP protection unit likely to get away with slap on wrist, say experts
Daily Maverick has been trying with no success to speak to the victims. There have been reports that they were barred from speaking to the media. DM
Become an Insider
To paraphrase Ian Cameron – Banana Republic much?
Suspension with full pay is the order of the day. If that’s not incentivising criminal behaviour, I don’t know what is. You get your full salary for doing zero work – what’s not to love?!
Suspended on full pay. The story of our damned country. Sounds more like a reward than a punishment to me.
It is a reward what’s better than not having to go to work and still draw your full salary?
Yes, and the lucky man can focus much better on his criminal activities, not distracted by the pesky employer.
What is the SANDF doing to help their trainees in this matter?
if anyone voted for or continues to vote for ANC that person/s is aiding and abetting this behaviour.
“The SAPS wishes not to discuss the matter further”…I’m sure they don’t. The whole point of checks and balances to hold public office bearers to account in a democracy, is to ensure we do just that. Public office holders at all levels from the President down are accorded way too much respect when they perform so poorly. Beki Celi’s police force once again caught in the cross hairs of scandalous unacceptable behaviour. Political leadership again absent and lacking anything remotely acceptable in a democracy. Little if anything has changed since the tragedy of the death of Collins Xhosa, and the police force of this ANC Government, seeming to largely have ignored the requirements to change in the Fabicius judgement. We seemingly see an increasing trend of either arrogance, or ignorance,or combination thereof, that has no place in any Government interested in serving South Africa.
Don’t worry guys…you’ll get a slap on the wrist and your AK47 back soon!
The “Wagner Rule” now applies here. Don’t worry about consequences because the big boss has your back!
Anything from rampies, not a word, while he polishes his marbles in Russia and Uganda and where else I wonder.