Six of the Presidential Protection Services members who were caught on video allegedly assaulting members of the public have been served with intent-to-suspend notices.
Also read: Victims traced as Ipid investigate alleged assault by police VIP Unit
Brigadier Athlenda Mathe reiterates that they have only been served with letters of intent to suspend. ‘They are not suspended. They have been served with letters from their employer with the intent to suspend.’
In the video, which went viral on Monday night, the group of officers can be seen dragging a man (presumed to be the driver of a blue VW Polo) and assaulting him on the side of the highway. Some of the officers were armed with assault rifles and firearms.
Make these thugs famous! Allegedly cops of VIP protection unit. This is an atrocity. This is what happens when the police is used as an iron fist for the state. Apparently in Johannesburg today. What will happen to them @SAPoliceService? Whatever happened to serve and protect?! pic.twitter.com/mkImtSNpmw
— Ian Cameron (@IanCameron23) July 3, 2023
Several political and advocacy groups have since spoken out against the incident and called for action from the government, IOL reports. In Ladysmith, community members have rallied behind the victims, offering them financial support to aid them in their legal endeavours.
Last year, Automobile Association of South Africa CEO Willem Groenewald raised his concerns about the behaviour of ‘blue light brigades’ and the threat they posed to road users: ‘They are aggressive towards other drivers often pushing them off the road to ensure their convoy has easy passage – many times through heavy traffic.’
‘We noted then, as we do again here, that anecdotal evidence points to members screaming at other motorists, showing their firearms to other motorists to intimidate them, and generally being belligerent when on the road. [Monday night’s] incident is another example of a unit acting above the law.’
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Picture: Screenshot of video