The portfolio committee on Police in Parliament has expressed concern over the delay in enforcing consequences within the South African Police Service, particularly regarding the VIP Protection Unit assigned to Deputy President Paul Mashatile. This concern arises in light of allegations that officers from Mashatile’s VIP Protection Unit assaulted a motorist and two passengers on the N1 highway in Gauteng in 2023. A video that went viral reportedly shows the VIP Protection Unit officers assaulting civilians.
The police committee has stated that delays in managing consequences at the South African Police Service (SAPS) undermine public trust in the police. Recently, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu revealed that at least 40 police officers are currently suspended with full pay due to various serious crimes, including murder and sexual assault. The committee maintains its position that corrupt police officers must be removed from their positions.
“8 VIP officers that belong to the protection details of Deputy President Paul Mashatile on the N1 over a year ago is a huge concern for the committee because they are still in the service of the SAPS solutions remains to be seen,” says Chairperson of Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron.
Recently a scuffle broke out during Mashatile’s door-to-door visit to Mandela Park in Khayelitsha ahead of the ANC’s January 8th Statement.
Cameron says they will follow up on the matter if charges are laid against his security personnel.
In another development, the Justice Committee says former Justice Minister Thembi Simelane’s deployment to Human Settlement coincided with them processing a legal opinion on accessing her VBS loan agreement.
“We can handle the personal information of the minister, the only information that related to the accusation but only in the form of a closed session if it is necessary so as when we were trying to process that the minister was changed to human settlement,” says Chairperson of Justice Committee, Xola Nqola. Nqola says their interaction with Simelane looked at issues of conflict of interest on her duties of accountability and oversight over the NPA.
