VANDERBIJLPARK – The National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola told the media on Thursday, July 6, that the eight men assigned to Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s security detail are temporarily removed from duty.
This comes after they [VIP protectors] got into hot water when footage of their assault emerged on Twitter showing depicting them beating and kicking two occupants of a blue polo vehicle.
Briefing the media at Vanderbijlpark police station on the status of crime in the country, the Commissioner said “The eight members have been issued with suspension notices and temporarily removed from their posts pending the outcome of our investigation.”
“I want to reiterate that the SAPS do not condone such behavior at any point. We are saying that no amount of provocation can ever justify or validate what we saw in 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,” he said.
Masemola said SAPS pledged to offer full cooperation to the IPID investigation, at the same time ensuring that internal processes are not compromised in any manner.
“The SAPS has clear instructions on the role of VIP Protectors whose mandate is, to ensure that an integrated protection service is rendered to all individuals identified as VIP’s.
“The protection of VIPs is provided for in terms of the policy on protection packages. The policy is in accordance with the 2014 Cabinet memorandum. In executing their duties, close protection officers must at all times portray professionalism, discipline, politeness, enthusiasm, and high ethical conduct, at all times prioritizing the safety of their principals,” he said.
