Cape Town – Members of Parliament (MPs) are advocating for police officers to wear body cameras following a recent incident involving the assault of civilians by members of the presidential protection unit on the N1 highway in Johannesburg.
According to EWN, MPs are concerned about how many similar incidents might go unnoticed due to lack of camera evidence.
They (MPs) stressed that they viewed this assault as part of a larger pattern of police brutality.
National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola said that equipping officers with body cameras was being considered by the South African Police Service.
The incident in question, captured by a passerby’s camera, has caused public outrage, leading to eight officers facing assault charges and internal disciplinary proceedings.
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Police officials, including Masemola and Police Minister Bheki Cele, addressed Parliament’s police portfolio committee to discuss the incident and its broader implications.
According to SABC, Cele said the incident has put SAPS in a bad light, adding that he had not previously commented on the matter due to being in the DRC at the time of the incident.
He said much had already been said on the matter by the deputy president, the acting police minister, and the national police commissioner.
“There was nothing new that one would have come up with other than fill the gaps, as one has filled the gaps in calling for the police to be cooperative on the matter and doing what they are supposed to do,” CapeTalk quoted the minister as saying.
The officers are currently out on bail of R10 000 each.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
