Randburg court to rule on VIP cops’ bid to dismiss viral N1 assault case
The eight members of Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s VIP protection detail appear in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court.
Image: Timothy Bernard/Independent Media
The Randburg Magistrate's Court is expected to deliver its judgment on a Section 174 application put forward by the defense of eight VIP officers, accused of assaulting three men at the side of a highway two years ago.
The men put forward the defence in a bid to have the matter dismissed on the grounds of insufficient evidence.
Action Society spokesperson, Juanita du Preez, said the accused were on duty when the now-infamous assault on civilians took place, captured in widely circulated video footage that shocked the nation. They have pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Du Preez stated that during the trial, the State led multiple witnesses and presented compelling video and testimonial evidence linking all the accused to the incident.
"The attempt to discharge the case under Section 174 is nothing more than a last-ditch effort to escape accountability.
"The eight accused should be treated as the criminals they are. They disregarded the law, misused their authority, and brutalised civilians instead of protecting them," she said.
Members of the SAPS VIP Protection Unit were recorded in a video assaulting occupants of another vehicle in Joburg.
Image: Screengrab
Screenshots of the assault.
Image: Screenshot
IOL previously reported that in July 2023, footage of the assault went viral. In clips shared on social media, the officials who later turned out to belong to Deputy President Paul Mashatile's security detail were seen dragging a man out of his vehicle and assaulting him at the side of the busy highway.
At the time, the driver and his two passengers were attached to the South African National Defence Force, were seen being kicked in the head by the heavily armed officers.
The incident was widely condemned.
IOL