By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The case of eight police officers who are part of Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s VIP Protection Services Unit has been postponed to Thursday.
Granting the postponement at the Randburg magistrate’s court on Wednesday, magistrate Hleziphi Mkhasibe said she was providing two defence attorneys a chance to prepare for a bail hearing.
The men first appeared in court on Monday after they handed themselves over to the police in Sandton on Sunday afternoon.
They face 12 charges that include malicious damage to property, assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm, pointing a firearm, reckless or negligent driving and an attempt to defeat or obstruct the administration of justice.
They were caught on camera punching and kicking four military trainees who appeared to have been dragged out of a Polo Vivo while travelling on the N1 highway in Johannesburg.
Through their lawyers – Shadrack Kojoana, Matome Mampuru, Pomso Mofokeng, Madumetja Ramokhonami, Molefo Boshielo, Mpakamiseni Mkhize, Lesibana Rambau and Moses Tshidida – applied for bail saying they can only afford to pay R1 000 each.
Their defence teams argued that their clients handed themselves over and if the bail is granted, they will not flee because they are the breadwinners for their families.
Seven of the accused are SAPS warrant officers and one is a sergeant. All are employed by the SAPS in the Presidential Protection Service unit and have been suspended on full pay.
As the hearing continued, the lawyers for accused number one, two, three and four said information was presented in court by the state that they still need to view, understand, and then consult with clients.
Speaking about the accused unmasking themselves for purposes of identification, Mkhasibe said the court will decide on arrangements on whether to unmask the accused in the absence of the media on Thursday.
Advocate Fanie Kabani, who is representing four of the accused, said that the State did not have enough evidence to keep them in custody pending a trial.
Meanwhile ActionSA has written to national police commissioner Fannie Masemola, urging him to investigate Mashatile for possibly lying about his involvement in the assault of motorists by his security detail on the N1 in Johannesburg.
On Tuesday, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula confirmed that Mashatile was present during the incident.
Mbalula remarks starkly contrast the claim by Mashatile’s office that the deputy president was not present during the incident.
Action SA spokesperson Lerato Ngobeni says the party is concerned that Mashatile might influence his security personnel’s response.
“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.
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Video Courtesy of SABC.