Motorists assaulted by VIP police allegedly prohibited by SANDF from speaking out Screenshots via Twitter video/@IanCameron23.
VIP Protection Unit in viral video suspended from their duties
Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola said no amount of provocation can justify the actions of the VIP Protection Unit.
Motorists assaulted by VIP police allegedly prohibited by SANDF from speaking out Screenshots via Twitter video/@IanCameron23.
South African Police Service (SAPS) National Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola has confirmed that all eight members of the VIP Protection Unit that were filmed assaulting a motorist have been suspended.
The VIP Protection Unit which was fimed on the N1 in Johannesburg has been confirmed to be part of Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s protection detail.
VIP PROTECTION UNIT MEMBERS SUSPENDED
Masemola held a briefing on Thursday, 6 July on various policing issues.
Masemola said he can confirm that those members have been identified and are currently being subjected to our internal processes, in line with SAPS Discipline Regulations of 2016, and Labour Relations prescripts.
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“We also identified and successfully traced the victims and can confirm that a criminal case has been opened and is under investigation by the
IPID,” he said.
“Thus far, eight members have been issued with suspension notices and temporarily removed from their posts pending the outcome of our
investigation,” he added.
MASEMOLA CONDEMNS VIRAL INCIDENT
Masemola reiterated that the SAPS does not condone such behaviour at any point.
“We are saying that no amount of provocation can ever justify or validate what we saw on the video clip, pending the outcome of the investigations. We generally follow a very stringent process to identify members that should be protecting our principals, so for those members to have conducted themselves in such a manner, is quite concerning,”
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