Cape Town – ActionSA has written to the National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, asking him to probe Deputy President Paul Mashatile for potential involvement in the assault of three men on the N1 in Johannesburg in July by his SAPS VIP Protection Unit, including possible influence on their heavy-handed response.
“Court proceedings on Monday confirmed, under oath, that the VIP unit assaulted the South Africans after they apparently tried to hit the vehicle Mashatile was driving in. This is a direct contradiction with a statement made by the Deputy President after the incident took place where he said that he was not present when the incident occurred.
“ActionSA, therefore, asks that General Masemola investigate the Deputy President for lying and attempting to cover up his involvement in the incident. If the Deputy President had nothing to hide, why would he attempt to cover up whether he was present when the incident took place?,” ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba said in a statement.
On Tuesday, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula confirmed that Mashatile was at the scene when his security detail allegedly assaulted three men on the N1 in Johannesburg in July.
“We will not allow Deputy President Paul Mashatile to get away with using brute force when South Africa has clear laws prohibiting law enforcement personnel from assaulting citizens – regardless of the circumstances.” – @HermanMashabahttps://t.co/ZzGfXT9GPn
— ActionSA (@Action4SA) July 25, 2023
“He was in the convoy. So where does step aside come in there? There is no step aside there. What we said, as the ANC, is that this matter must be investigated by Ipid. It’s been investigated. That has been undertaken,” EWN quoted Mbalula as saying.
The incident led to eight officers from the police’s VIP protection unit facing court proceedings.
The court testimony contradicts Mashatile’s statement, where he denied being present during the assault incident.
ActionSA is seeking a thorough investigation into the matter.
“As a party which believes that to fix South Africa we must restore the rule of law, ActionSA will not allow the Deputy President to get away with using brute force when South Africa has clear laws prohibiting law enforcement personnel from assaulting citizens – regardless of the circumstances.,” Mashaba said.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: Twitter/@IanCameron23
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
