‘Circus, chaos, cover-up’ — DA tears into SAPS over Mashatile VIP assault case

VIP Unit Attack

Cape Town — The Democratic Alliance (DA) has accused the South African Police Service (SAPS) of deliberately sabotaging the internal disciplinary process against members of Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s VIP protection unit, labelling the two-year probe into their conduct a “coordinated cover-up”.

The explosive claims come after the DA obtained records via a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) request, revealing what the party describes as “a complete breakdown in accountability” within SAPS.

The unit made headlines in 2023 after a viral video showed its members violently assaulting civilians on the N1 highway in Johannesburg. Despite widespread public outcry and the video’s confirmation as admissible evidence in court, SAPS allegedly failed to discipline the officers internally.

According to DA MP and Police Spokesperson Ian Cameron, the internal process was plagued by delays, missed deadlines and logistical excuses — including scheduling conflicts, family commitments, and a failure by SAPS to provide basic transport and accommodation for witnesses.

“Instead of a swift and transparent disciplinary process, this case descended into a two-year circus of postponements, procedural chaos, and excuses,” Cameron said.

“The case was ultimately abandoned because key witnesses — including the complainant and the person who filmed the assault — had ‘disappeared’.”

Cameron also alleged that SAPS investigators ignored critical evidence and failed to pursue clear leads, despite video footage showing the perpetrators in action. He accused the police of protecting “thugs in uniform” rather than upholding the law.

“This is not just administrative failure, it is a deliberate failure of justice,” he said.

“The SAPS is protecting these thugs in uniform. These are not officers of the law.”

The DA further slammed the role of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU), accusing it of procedural sabotage and aiding in the delay of the hearings instead of promoting accountability.

In response, the DA is calling for the urgent formation of an independent SAPS disciplinary unit, similar to a structure currently operating in KwaZulu-Natal, to expedite serious misconduct cases.

The accused officers are expected to appear in court again in August for the verdict in the ongoing criminal case. The DA says it hopes the courts will deliver justice, unlike the “aborted” internal process.

“We will not relent until every one of Mashatile’s blue light bullies is held to account,” Cameron said.

“The SAPS must serve the people of South Africa, not act as a protection racket for the politically connected.”

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