‘Blue light bullies’ case drags on while members of Mashatile’s VIP protection unit are back at work

Tuesday, 2 July marks exactly a year since members of the VIP protection unit attached to Deputy President Paul Mashatile were caught in a widely circulated 57-second video that appeared to show them punching and kicking the occupants of a car they had stopped on a Gauteng highway.

The matter has been before the Randburg Magistrates’ Court since 24 July 2023. In the most recent court appearance, in May this year, when the matter was postponed to 29 July, the authenticity of video footage of the alleged assault and alcohol bottles in the victims’ vehicle took centre stage.

Eight VIP officers attached to Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s protection unit appear in the Randburg Magistrates’ Court. (Photo: Michelle Banda)

One of the victims testified about what happened on the highway. The witness broke down in tears when the defence claimed that their vehicle had been halted because it could have endangered the Deputy President’s entourage.

At the time of the incident, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula said Mashatile was in the convoy, while Mashatile’s spokesperson, Vukani Mde, told Daily Maverick the Deputy President was not in the cars involved in the incident.

The eight members of the VIP protection unit involved in the incident were arrested in August and later released on bail of R10,000 each. They were suspended from work on full pay after the video went viral.

However, the suspension lapsed in October, when national police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe confirmed the officers were back on duty.

She said: “The members are not operational and are office-based. In line with the SAPS disciplinary regulations, the suspension is for 60 days. Thereafter, the suspension is automatically lifted if the internal process is still under way. The internal departmental investigation has been finalised and the divisional commissioner for protection security services has appointed functionaries to proceed with the disciplinary process.”

There has since been no word about the disciplinary process.

The eight accused are Shadrack Molekatlane Kojana, Johannes Matome Mampuru, Posmo Joseph Mofokeng, Harmans Madumetja Ramokhonami, Phineas Molefo Boshielo, Churchill Mpakamaseni Mkhize, Lesiba Aggrie Ramabu and Moses Fhatuwani.

They face a range of charges, including pointing a firearm, malicious damage to property, reckless and negligent driving, assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm, attempting to defeat the administration of justice and assault by way of threats.

SAPS drags its feet

David Bruce, an independent researcher on policing and an Institute of Security Studies (ISS) consultant, told Daily Maverick: “At face value, this is a case of an assault by members of the SAPS on civilians. It illustrates that the current system of police accountability is dysfunctional. Accountability should not hinge on criminal prosecution.

“SAPS members who are involved in this kind of conduct should be dismissed from the SAPS on disciplinary grounds. Instead, the approach within the SAPS is that they will defer to the criminal trial, which relies on a much higher standard of proof.

“The SAPS uses the criminal trial as an excuse for not taking disciplinary action. The fact that the criminal trial is still dragging on should not stand in the way of finalising the disciplinary process. If the criminal prosecution fails that should not mean that these members evade disciplinary accountability.”

A recent study by the ISS argues that a professional and capable South African Police Service (SAPS) must be a top priority for the government.

Timeline

• 2 July 2023, around 4pm: The occupants of a car are allegedly assaulted on the N1 between Johannesburg and Pretoria. The incident is reported by VIP protection unit members to convoy leader Lieutenant Colonel Shange. It is registered at 11.45pm on the same day, with some of the details omitted from the report, particularly the alleged assault.


• 3 July 2023, evening: A video of the alleged assault captured by a witness, who wants to remain anonymous, goes viral after being shared on Facebook by Anton Philipus Jacobus Koen.


• 4 July 2023: The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) and the SAPS begin an investigation to track down the VIP protection unit in the video and the alleged victims. Mashatile’s office confirms members of his protection unit were involved.


• 5 July 2023: The SA National Defence Union confirms that the men allegedly assaulted are SANDF members and one is a member of the union. The SAPS says a case against the officers attached to Mashatile’s security unit has been opened. Ipid conducts interviews with the alleged victims and SAPS members.


• 5 July 2023: Koen receives a threatening message on his cellphone via SMS, which reads: “Good day Mr Koen, we do not take kind [sic] to the footage that you supplied the media. You have made a lot of enemies in specialised units. We will deal with you…”


• 10 July 2023: The officers are placed on suspension with full pay.


• 23 July 2023: The officers hand themselves over to Ipid.


• 24 July 2023: The officers make their first appearance in court for a bail application.


• 26 July 2023: The officers make a second appearance in court to continue their bail application.


• 27 July 2023: The case is postponed to 1 August 2023.


• 1 August 2023: The officers are granted R10,000 bail and the matter is postponed until 27 September 2023.


• 27 September 2023: The matter is postponed to 9 November 2023.


• 9 November 2023: The matter is postponed to 6 May for trial.


• 9 May 2024: The matter is postponed to 29 July. DM