Four officers of the South African Police Services (SAPS) Presidential Protection Unit have been served with letters of notice to suspend them.
This after a video emerged on social media showing the officers brutally assaulting a driver of a VW Polo and its passengers. The incident took place on the N1 highway in Fourways, Johannesburg.
Also Read: Deputy President Paul Mashatile condemns unnecessary SAPS force by his VIP protection unit
Deputy President Paul Mashatile released a press statement confirming that the officers were his bodyguards. “The deputy president abhors any unnecessary use of force, particularly against unarmed civilians. The National Commissioner of SAPS, General Fannie Masemola, has promised a thorough investigation of the incident and articulated the conduct expected of police officers very well,” the statement read.
Social media was abuzz since the video surfaced online, with users expressing shock and outrage at the level of brutality shown. The Independent Investigative Directorate (IPID) received complaints against the officers involved in the incident and an investigation was underway. “IPID Investigators have already been in contact with the family members of the victims so that they could be assisted in laying charges,” said the police watchdog in a press release.
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