The eight suspects, who include personal security officers of deputy president Paul Mashatile, appeared before the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday (24/7). Magistrate Hleziphe Mkhasibe ruled that the court proceedings may be televised, as it is in the best interest of the public. The state explained that the charges against the accused include assault and pointing of a firearm. The case will sit again on Wednesday (26/7).

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The eight accused have been suspended from their official duties after a video of an assault on unarmed civilians in Fourways, Gauteng, went viral on social media. The national spokesperson for the Independent Police Investigation Directorate (IPID), Robbie Raburabu, said the eight were held at the Sandton police station from Sunday (23/7). “On Sunday, IPID investigators processed these members of the VIP Protection Services at the Sandton Police Station following authorisation by the Director of Public Prosecution.”

ALSO READ: ‘Police brutality must come to an end’ – DA

The DA has since embarked on a campaign against police brutality. The DA’s Andrew Whitfield said although they welcome the suspension of the VIP officers and the fact that they have been charged with assault, more still needs to be done. “The DA has been at the forefront in the fight against police brutality since the lockdown of 2020 when hundreds of incidents of police abuse were reported,” he said.

ALSO READ: Free State hitchhikers’ attack: Case against police to resume

In the Free State, allegations of police brutality are not new. Edgar Mokotso and three other people, allegedly assaulted by police officers, are still waiting on the outcome of their case after yet another postponement. The case relates to an incident on 2 October 2017, when Mokotso and others were hitchhiking on the N1 outside Trompsburg, heading to Edenburg. Mokotso previously told OFM News they were accused by the police of robbing a local furniture store after they got a lift in a white panel van. He alleged that seven police officers assaulted them while they were in custody, before being released for wrongful arrest the same day.

The seven police officers – six men and one woman – are facing charges of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm. One of the postponements was due to some of the police officers failing to appear before the court, which resulted in them getting arrested. 

It was also reported that the victims received compensation in December 2020. While there were internal disciplinary proceedings against the police officers between 2018 and 2019, they were not disciplined. However, IPID found the police officers to be in the wrong. In October 2019, Viewfinder published an exposé on IPID, alleging that cases were being manipulated by investigators for the purpose of altering the directorate’s performance on cases.

OFM News