THE Democratic Alliance (DA) has launched an attack on the South African Police Service (SAPS).
The party accused the institution of orchestrating a deliberate failure of justice in the disciplinary case involving Deputy President Paul Mashatile's VIP protection unit.
These officers, who were caught on video brutally assaulting civilians on the N1 highway in 2023, have seemingly walked free after what the DA calls a two-year circus of postponements, procedural bungling, and evasion.
According to the DA, documents obtained through a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) request reveal a disturbing timeline marked by repeated delays due to scheduling conflicts, family emergencies, and SAPS' inability to arrange basic transport and accommodation.
"What we've uncovered is not just administrative incompetence. It is a deliberate, systemic cover-up.
"SAPS, with all its investigative powers, couldn't even secure the attendance of its own key witnesses, including the complainant and the individual who recorded the now-viral assault video," said DA MP Ian Cameron.
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Cameron further claimed that investigators ignored critical evidence and failed to follow obvious leads, even after a court deemed the video footage admissible.
"Even with visual proof showing the attack, SAPS still refused to act. This isn't a failure to discipline, it's protection of criminals in uniform," he said
The MP has also taken aim at the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru), alleging that the union played an obstructive role during the disciplinary proceedings.
"Popcru's conduct in this matter has been disgraceful. Rather than standing for justice and accountability, they appear to have enabled delay tactics, strategic withdrawals, and procedural sabotage.
"This wasn't a disciplinary process. It was a coordinated effort to bury the truth," said Cameron.
The DA is calling for the urgent establishment of an independent, professional SAPS disciplinary unit, modelled on the dedicated structure currently in use in KZN, to handle serious misconduct swiftly and effectively.
"The SAPS must serve the people of South Africa, not function as a protection racket for the politically connected.
"We will not rest until every one of Mashatile's blue light bullies is held to account," added Cameron.
