VIP unit assault: ActionSA writes to police commissioner to investigate Deputy President Paul Mashatile for lying

25 July 2023

ActionSA has written to the National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, to investigate Deputy President, Paul Mashatile, for possibly lying about his involvement in the assault of three South Africans by his SAPS VIP Protection Unit at the beginning of July, and possibly influencing his security personnel to respond heavy handily.

Court proceedings on Monday confirmed, under oath, that the VIP unit assaulted the South Africans after they apparently tried to hit the vehicle Mashatile was driving in. This is a direct contradiction with a statement made by the Deputy President after the incident took place where he said that he was not present when the incident occurred.

ActionSA, therefore, asks that General Masemola investigate the Deputy President for lying and attempting to cover up his involvement in the incident. If the Deputy President had nothing to hide, why would he attempt to cover up whether he was present when the incident took place?

ActionSA has long believed that the VIP Unit Officials were influenced by Mashatile’s mafia-style leadership to respond heavy-handedly against the three South Africans.

Mashatile already faces a number of serious unethical conduct including living a life of luxury in expensive homes – owned by businesspeople who are alleged to have benefitted from state contracts – and the Deputy President lying about his involvement in the assault further proves that he cannot be trusted.

As a party which believes that to fix South Africa we must restore the rule of law, ActionSA will not allow the Deputy President to get away with using brute force when South Africa has clear laws prohibiting law enforcement personnel from assaulting citizens – regardless of the circumstances.

ActionSA will work tirelessly to ensure that this matter is treated with the seriousness it deserves and that police officers are held responsible for the brutality inflicted on ordinary South Africans.

Issued by Herman Mashaba, ActionSA President, 25 July 2023