THE eight VIP protection officers linked to an assault incident on the N1 appeared in the Randburg Magistrates Court on Monday, 24 July.
The suspects are facing 12 charges which include three counts of assault, one count of attempt to defeat the administration of justice, and assault by way of threats, four counts of pointing a firearm, two counts of malicious damage to property and one count of reckless and negligent driving.
One of the eight suspects, Shadrack Kojoana, testified that the victims were posing danger to them while they were driving from Soweto to Pretoria.
He said: "While we were driving we received a message on our phones that the vehicle, a blue Polo Vivo, was driving towards the main car which was carrying the Deputy President, Paul Mashatile.
"Two of our VIP cars directed the blue Polo toward the third lane, but the driver slowed down and then drove fast."
He said they managed to lead the driver to stop. He said when they rushed to the car, they found three male and one female occupants in the car. He said they introduced themselves to them as VIP police officers.
“We urged them to open their doors and get out, but they resisted.
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“The woman ended up opening the door and I told the man who was sitting at the back of driver’s seat to get out," he said, adding that the driver was ordered to lie down before being searched.
Kojoana said the video which went viral, showing them allegedly attacking the victims, did not reflect what happened on the 2 July.
"The videos does not show what happened before we cornered the motorist and the three passengers."
The state advocate Elize le Roux told Kojoana the video showed the VIP officers allegedly assaulting people who were in the car. But Kojoana responded that there was no assault.
"I’m denying what is on the video. We were controlling the situation. I don’t even know what smashed the window of the car. I only heard after the incident."
The state advocate said the incident happened at about 4pm and asked Kojoana if they reported the matter to their commander. He said they had a debriefing session and reported the matter hours later.
Kojoana and seven colleagues - Johannes Matome Mampuru, Pomso Joseph Mofokeng, Harmans Madumetja Ramokhonami, Phineas Molefo Boshielo, Churchill Mpakamaseni Mkhize, Lesibana Aggrie Rambau and Moses Fhatuwani Tshidada - will remain in custody and will appear in court on Wednesday, 26 July.
