Mashatile ‘was in convoy’ during N1 assault, says Mbalula
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has confirmed that Deputy President Paul Mashatile was present when his security detail assaulted three men on the N1 in Johannesburg earlier this month.
On Tuesday, Mbalula addressed the media at the ANC’s local government workshop in Boksburg.
Mbalula remarks stand in stark contrast to the claim by Mashatile's office that the deputy president was not present during the incident.
Eight officers from the police’s VIP unit made their first appearance in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
They are expected back in court on Wednesday.
Mbalula was asked if the ANC would ask Mashatile to step aside, in line with the resolutions on party members found on the wrong side of the law.
"The deputy president was in the convoy, I cannot speak on this security detail. When you are in a convoy, you will not see what happens around you because you are being defended. The deputy president has never said he was not in the convoy. He was in the convoy.
"So where does the step aside come in there? There is no step aside there. What we said as the ANC is that this matter must be investigated by Independent Police Investigative Directorate (and is being investigated," Mbalula said.
At the same time, ActionSA has written to National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola, requesting an investigation into Mashatile, for possibly lying about his involvement in the assault and possibly “influencing” his security’s heavy-handed response.
"ActionSA will not allow the deputy president to get away with using brute force when South Africa has clear laws prohibiting law enforcement personnel from assaulting citizens regardless of the circumstances," said spokesperson Lerato Ngobeni.
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