“The police cannot comment on the security detail of the President or the Deputy President of the country,” said a police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, responding to questions raised by Ward 132 councillor Annette Deppe.

Deppe wants to know what exactly Deputy President Paul Mashatile is being protected from, whether he must have such a large number of vehicles in his convoy, and what the official guideline is regarding the number of cars or personnel allowed in a security escort.

Read more: Councillor vows to address deputy president’s alleged 16-car convoy

She raised these concerns after repeated complaints from residents about what they describe as excessive and disruptive motorcades frequently seen exiting the back gate of the Waterfall Equestrian Estate, where Mashatile resides.

In one recent incident, a resident counted 16 vehicles and motorbikes in the convoy, an occurrence that has sparked confusion and growing frustration in the community.

“The size and frequency of these convoys have made residents uneasy,” Deppe said. “The noise and disruption undermine the peaceful nature of the suburb.”

While emphasising the importance of protecting senior officials, Deppe said there needs to be a better balance between security protocols and residents’ rights to peace and privacy.

“I am committed to addressing the understandable concerns of the residents regarding the frequency and scale of these occurrences. The security protocols must respect both the safety of public officials and the tranquillity of our communities.”

But efforts to get clear answers on the matter have so far reached a dead end. When contacted, the deputy president’s spokesperson, Keith Khoza, referred the matter back to the police, who in turn declined to comment.

She added that she would be engaging the relevant government departments to seek clarity on how convoy sizes are determined and to push for more transparency and consideration of the local impact.

This isn’t the first time the issue has caused a stir. In April, a dashcam video was shared on a community WhatsApp group, allegedly showing Mashatile’s convoy driving on the wrong side of the road.

While Fourways Review could not independently verify that it was indeed his convoy, Deppe maintains it was.
“He lives at Waterfall Equestrian Estate and always uses that back gate. Residents know what they’ve seen,” she said.

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