Cape Town – The Democratic Alliance (DA) has reportedly criticised Police Minister Bheki Cele for his silence regarding a violent assault on two men by members of Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s VIP protection service.
According to News24, DA police spokesperson Andrew Whitfield expressed discontent with Cele’s lack of action and called on him to address the incident and hold those responsible accountable.
“Minister Bheki Cele, you are conspicuous by your absence. This is a minister that never misses the opportunity to get in front of the cameras. He speaks at every funeral of police officers who are slain in the country, but when South African citizens are violently attacked by his brutal blue light brigade of bullies, the minister is nowhere to be seen,” the report quoted Whitfield as saying.
The video of the incident showed the victims being attacked by the officers, who then left them on the ground.
I will do everything in my power to ensure that these Blue Light Bullies are brought to book. I have already engaged the Executive Director of IPID and will be demanding that Minister Cele ensure SAPS arrest these thugs within 24 hours. pic.twitter.com/n1PaOAXcin
— Andrew Whitfield, MP (@andrewhitfield) July 3, 2023
Eight officers involved were subsequently suspended.
The victims, who initially thought it was a hijacking before being forced off the road by the security detail, have sought civil charges against Cele with the assistance of Action Society, a civil rights organisation.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
