Seven automatic rifle-toting men were caught laying into three motorists and then swaggering like cowboys back to their cars before driving off and this was caught on camera. The SAPS were unusually swift to react. SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe issued a statement just before 9pm, admitting that “a preliminary report indicates that the vehicles seen in the video belong to the SAPS and the men seen in the video are SAPS members” and stating that “an internal departmental investigation” was under way. The National Commissioner of the SAPS, General Fannie Masemola, is quoted in the statement as saying: “Members of the SAPS are meant to uphold and protect the fundamental rights of every person and exercise the powers conferred upon them in a responsible and controlled manner. Such action cannot be condoned regardless of the circumstance.”

It has since emerged that these policemen are attached to the security detail of Deputy President Paul Mashatile. Mashatile said in a statement this morning: "The Deputy President has become aware of an unfortunate incident involving between members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) who are attached to his protection detail and civilians, which occurred in Johannesburg over the weekend. The Deputy President appeals to the public to allow the SAPS the necessary space to complete its investigation into the incident and take whatever corrective action is deemed necessary.

The Deputy President has full confidence in the SAPS under the leadership of Minister Bheki Cele and the command of General Masemola to do the right thing in this regard." The public deserve an apology from Mashatile. While we might feel grateful that the assault was not covered up (hard to do so under the circumstances), the SAPS’ response is not sufficient. The seven men are easily identifiable: they should be arrested, charged, named publicly and summarily dismissed TODAY. But there’s a bigger problem to be confronted here, which we may thank the thug-officers for bringing back to our attention. According to a parliamentary question answered by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2022, taxpayers are funding VIP protection to the tune of nearly R2-billion a year and rising. Ramaphosa told Parliament that this service is offered to: