JOHANNESBURG — Eight cops assigned to a safety staff for South Africa’s deputy president appeared in court docket Monday going through assault and different expenses after they had been caught on video kicking and stomping two off-duty trainee troopers whose automobile they pulled over on a Johannesburg freeway.
The plainclothes VIP safety officers had been driving in a convoy escorting Deputy President Paul Mashatile after they dragged the 2 males out of their automobile and attacked them earlier this month. Some of the officers carried assault rifles.
One of the trainees was kicked unconscious within the assault, which was caught on video by one other motorist and shared broadly on social media.
The automobile carrying Mashatile continued on to his home, and the deputy president was not current when the alleged assaults occurred. Mashatile has condemned the conduct of the officers, who’ve been suspended from work.
The eight officers had been arrested Sunday and held at a Johannesburg police station earlier than they appeared in court docket for a bail listening to on Monday. No resolution was made on whether or not they could be eligible for bail.
One of the officers testified that they pulled the automobile over as a result of it was driving too near Mashatile‘s automobile and regarded a menace.
The officers are a part of a VIP safety unit recognized in South Africa because the “blue light brigade” and which has a repute for driving dangerously quick and reacting with pointless pressure if vehicles don’t instantly get out of the best way. The unit usually operates in unmarked automobiles with blue sirens.
The witness’ video sparked outrage in a rustic that has an issue with police brutality.
They are accused of assaulting three males, though the video solely captures them kicking and stomping on two males whereas a 3rd lies subsequent to them. A lady who was additionally touring within the automobile is seen standing together with her fingers within the air because the officers assault the boys.
The officers had been touring in two black SUVs and are seen getting again into their automobiles and driving away, leaving one of many males mendacity immobile on the facet of the busy freeway.
Prosecutors and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, which investigates police misconduct, stated the eight could be charged with assault, malicious injury to property and firearm offenses.
A union that represents members of the armed forces stated the entire assault victims are within the South African military, though they weren’t on responsibility on the time.
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