DEPUTY President Paul Mashatile insists he was nowhere near the alleged assault of three men by his bodyguards on Joburg’s N1 highway earlier in July 2023.
His spokesman, Vukani Mde, told Daily Sun on Tuesday, 25 July that Mashatile was not at the scene. This despite what one of the eight VIP protection unit officers told the Randburg Magistrates Court in Joburg on Monday 24, July.
The officer said the incident happened after the Volkswagen Polo Vivo with three men drove “towards the main car, which was carrying the Deputy President, Paul Mashatile”.
Mde denied that the deputy president or his office had earlier lied about his whereabouts in a statement: “It said he was not because he was not there,” said Mde.
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A video of the bodyguards brutally assaulting the driver of a VW Polo and two passengers went viral on Monday, 3 July.
DA Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga said his party will ask questions in Parliament to find out what really happened.
”One of the main questions that has arisen for the DA following testimony during the day's proceedings in the Randburg Magistrates Court is whether or not Deputy President Paul Mashatile was in fact in the vehicle. And if so, why would his spokesperson lie about it?” said Msimanga.
Msimanga said the court appearance of the “now infamous Blue Light Bullies” sent the right message that in spite of what some may believe, no one is above the law.
Mde said that the DA did not know what they were talking about when they said Mashatile’s office lied to the public about the saga.
“They are lying themselves and they know it,” he said.
