In a move that has ignited widespread public fury and renewed fears of unchecked police power, eight SAPS officers from Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s VIP Protection Unit have been acquitted in an internal disciplinary process, despite viral video footage capturing them brutally assaulting civilians on Johannesburg’s N1 highway in July 2023.
The graphic footage, which triggered a national outcry at the time, shows the officers dragging a Volkswagen Polo driver from his car and viciously attacking him and two passengers, both of whom were identified as South African military trainees. The video sparked instant condemnation on social media and led to charges of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and malicious damage to property.
Despite this, the South African Police Service (SAPS) announced this week that all eight officers had been cleared of wrongdoing and have since been reinstated—a decision critics call a devastating blow to public trust in law enforcement.
💬 “State-Sanctioned Violence”
Ian Cameron, Chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police, slammed the ruling, calling it “state-sanctioned violence.” He added, “This decision signals that abuse of power by elite police units is tolerated at the highest levels.”
Social media erupted in outrage, with thousands using hashtags like #JusticeForN1Victims and #SAPSBrutality to express disbelief at the outcome. Many see the acquittal as part of a wider pattern of impunity among high-profile law enforcement units in South Africa.
⚖️ Criminal Trial Still Looms
While cleared internally, the officers are still facing criminal charges, with the next court date set for June 10, 2025. One of the victims is pursuing a R1 million civil suit against the state, citing trauma and lasting injuries.
The officers have claimed that the VW Polo posed a security threat, alleging it had been weaving dangerously through Mashatile’s convoy. However, critics argue that the violent response was wildly disproportionate and unprovoked, especially given the victims’ unarmed status.
🛡️ ANC Stands by Mashatile
The ANC has defended Deputy President Mashatile, maintaining that he bears no responsibility for the conduct of his protection unit. “We cannot hold the Deputy President accountable for operational decisions made by trained officers,” an ANC spokesperson stated.
Still, public confidence in the SAPS VIP units has been badly shaken, with growing calls for independent oversight, reform, and disciplinary transparency.
🔥 A Flashpoint for Reform
The incident and subsequent acquittal have reignited national debates over police brutality, elite immunity, and the credibility of SAPS’s internal investigations. Civil society groups are planning protests ahead of the June court date, demanding accountability, justice, and reform within the country’s most powerful police units.
