The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is investigating allegations of assault against members of the Protection Security Services unit in the South African Police Service (SAPS).
IPID Executive Director Dikeledi Jennifer Ntlatseng received a complaint from Members of Parliament Andrew Whitfield and Ockert Terreblanche regarding an incident of assault that took place on the N1 North, within the precinct of the Sandton Police station.
A video of heavily armed SAPS officers assaulting a Gauteng motorist and two others has been circulated on social media.
The footage showed members of SAPS assaulting the driver of a VW Polo and his passengers.
IPID investigators have already been in contact with family members of the victims so that they could be assisted in laying charges.
“Engagements are underway to also get the employers of the victims to assist with the investigations. IPID has already engaged SAPS management who are offering their full cooperation as far as the IPID investigation is concerned,” IPID said in a statement.
The police said they have established that the two black BMW X5s captured in the viral video were indeed owned by the SA Police Service. After allegedly assaulting the victims, the VIP officers got back into three black BMW SUVs and sped off.
Meanwhile, the National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola has condemned the behaviour of the police officers.
“Members of the SAPS are meant to uphold and protect the fundamental rights of every person and exercise the powers conferred upon them in a responsible and controlled manner. Such action cannot be condoned regardless of the circumstance,” he said. - SAnews.gov.za
