Daily Maverick
Dailymaverick logo

South Africa

South Africa, Maverick News

Mashatile blue light protection unit case - witness describes being hit on head with butt of gun

Mashatile blue light protection unit case - witness describes being hit on head with butt of gun
Michelle Banda
By Michelle Banda
2 Aug 2024
Facebook
4
The trial of Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s VIP protection officers sees new developments as the second witness testifies, detailing the alleged assault on the N1 highway.

In the ongoing trial in the assault case involving Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s VIP protection officers, Thursday and Friday, saw a second witness and victim of the assault take the stand after the lengthy cross-examination of the first witness since May 2024.

The second witness, who can’t be named to protect his identity, is among the four occupants of the Blue Polo Vivo car, including the first witness who was the driver. The four, confirmed to be military trainees, were driving from Potchefstroom to a military base in Pretoria when they were allegedly assaulted on the N1 highway in Johannesburg on Sunday, 2 July 2023. 

The first witness this week testified how he was beaten up and lost consciousness and left on the side of the road. He recounted how he initially assumed he had been hijacked, and how the incident had since made him uncomfortable around police officers and with driving.

Read in Daily Maverick: ‘I look dead in that video’ – Mashatile ‘blue light’ protection unit victim and partner speak a year after brutal highway attack

‘Witness ignored numerous signals to slow down or stop’


In court, the witness questioned why the officers did not follow proper procedures to stop and search them if they suspected a threat to the convoy. 

The defence argued that the witness ignored numerous signals to slow down or stop, and failed to exit the vehicle when requested by the officers.

Defence lawyer Mswazi Makhubele claimed the officers had to use “minimum force” to ensure compliance, adding that the occupants of the car were allegedly drunk, had bottles of alcohol in the vehicle, and were driving recklessly at 160km/h. Makhubele also mentioned that the witness, believed to be the driver of the Polo Vivo, did not have a driver’s licence, which could explain his reluctance to stop.

The first witness denied these allegations and demanded proof from the defence.

The second State witness in the case also described how he was dragged out of the vehicle and assaulted.  

“At the time I was dragged out of the vehicle I lost balance and was falling backwards, and that is when I was kicked in the face and fell on the road. When I tried to get up, I saw one man approach me with a gun. He used the butt of the gun to hit me on the head at the back. That is when I lost consciousness,” he said.

The witness told the court  that during an identity parade he had been able to identify the officer who had assaulted him as accused number four (Harmans Madumetja Ramokhonami).

The witness told the court that despite not having a driver’s licence he was the one who had to drive the other three victims to the base in Pretoria, as the driver was in no position because he was weak and the others couldn't drive.

Still has nightmares


He further told the court that he still had nightmares about the incident. 

The defence told the court that his clients did not intend to shoot at the victims during the incident. The defence has also denied the second witness’ claim that he had been assaulted, stating: “In the video that you saw, you can agree that nowhere before 10 seconds do we see you. I can confirm what does appear on the video, accused number four (Ramokhonami) appears from the front of the Polo motor vehicle on the left-hand side to the commotion. When he arrived where the other witness was, you were not appearing there. If he assaulted you, then the video would have picked it up, which means you were not assaulted.”

However, the witness has maintained his account of the assault.

Read in Daily Maverick: Members of Mashatile’s protection unit beat me and left me unconscious on N1, says witness

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

The trial continues with the next hearing scheduled for August 20 at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court. The accused are back at work, while the lives of the military trainees have come to a standstill. 

Timeline

  • 2 July 2023, about 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 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 that one is a member of the union. The SAPS says a case against the officers attached to Mashatile’s security unit has been opened. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate 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 the The Independent Police Investigative Directorate.

  • 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.

  • 1 August 2024: The matter is postponed to 20 August. DM




 

Categories:

Tags: