The eight VIP escort officers who were caught beating three civilians on the side of the N1 motorway earlier in July have been formally charged with assault, malicious damage to property, and pointing firearms, according to Robbie Raburabu, the spokesperson for the Independent Police Investigation Directorate (IPID).
However, they have not yet been arrested, and they are currently enjoying unlimited off time as they have been suspended from the police force without taking any knock to their pay.
This is because the investigation is still ongoing as the IPID is waiting for reports from government institutions, Raburabu said in an interview on 702.
The suspects argued that their actions were justified because the victim’s car posed a threat to the convoy, he said.
Since the attack, the three victims have also filed charges against the police officers, but they have allegedly been banned from speaking about the incident by their employer, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
I will do everything in my power to ensure that these Blue Light Bullies are brought to book. I have already engaged the Executive Director of IPID and will be demanding that Minister Cele ensure SAPS arrest these thugs within 24 hours. pic.twitter.com/n1PaOAXcin
— Andrew Whitfield, MP (@andrewhitfield) July 3, 2023
Public outrage
The announcement of the eight officers being suspended with full pay was met with outrage from members of the public, who have been calling for the suspects to be charged and arrested.
Civil Rights organisation Action Society described the suspension as being little more than a “paid holiday,” according to IOL.
Responding to questions from EWN on the subject, National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola said that it is normal for police officers to be suspended with full pay.
“Yes, the members have to be suspended with a salary. For us, everybody who gets suspended goes on suspension with a salary. It’s an agreement that has been made at the Bargaining Council. They can’t be treated differently than others,” he said.
Action Society’s Ian Cameron said that the suspension made a mockery of the incident.
“If you or I pointed a firearm at someone, we’d already be arrested and be begging for bail but because they are obviously a law until themselves, they can do as they please,” he said.
The situation reeks of political interference, as not only have the victims been stopped from speaking about the ordeal, the person who filmed the incident has reportedly also received death threats for publishing the video on social media.
These threats have been acknowledged by the police and are currently being “looked into,” said National Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe.
“One would expect the upper echelons of the defence force to stand by its members, supporting them in their time of need rather than aiding in the protection of the alleged assailants from the SAPS VIP Unit,” said Action Society’s Daniël Eloff.
“The truth must be brought to light, and the victims have every right to bring their personal experiences into public view.”
Keyword: 8 VIP police officers charged for N1 assault – Suspended with full pay but not arrested