Deputy President Paul Mashatile has confirmed that the VIP Protection Unit members involved in the N1 incident have been identified and are assigned to him. The officers were caught on camera brutally assaulting members of the public on the N1 highway in Johannesburg.
In a statement, Mashatile expressed his disapproval of the unnecessary use of force, particularly against unarmed civilians. National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola has promised a thorough investigation into the incident.
The South African Police Union (SAPU) has condemned the alleged assault by members of the VIP Protection Unit and called for restraint until the investigations are completed. The incident, captured on camera, shows officers brutally attacking civilians near a stationary vehicle.
Lesiba Thobakgale, the spokesperson for SAPU, stated that while the circumstances surrounding the incident are not yet clear, any form of violence is condemned by the union. Thobakgale urged the SAPS management to expedite the investigations to uncover the truth behind the incident and allow the law to take its course if necessary.