Yesterday we listened to regular news bulletins about an incident of
alleged VIP Protection Unit brutality against a motorist and his mother after
their red VW Golf had collided with a car in the President’s motorcade.
The incident took place on the highway near the Snake Park off-ramp at Benoni.
Eye witnesses told how a group of VIP Protection Unit officers allegedly held a gun to the man’s head and punched and kicked him before turning on the man’s mother and assaulting her when she tried to intervene to save her son.
This, following an incident last November when a “VIP Protection Unit officer allegedly shot at a car, causing it to collide with another vehicle on the N3 in Pietermaritzburg”, raises serious concerns about the unruly elements employed as officers in the units.
And incidents of this kind also serve to remind the public, here and abroad, of similar ugly incidents involving our police services in recent times around the country. It brings into question whether this country is headed down the banana republic road.
However, there may be another side to the story of events that unfolded at the Snake Road off-ramp. This version was picked up by a Canadian friend (the story has gone international):
“Drunk driver collides with Presidential convoy
Tshepo Lesole 4 Hours Ago
“Police have confirmed that the motorist who collided with a VIP Protection Unit vehicle on the N12 highway on Saturday was drunk.
“They reported that the driver of a red Golf was disturbing the President’s convoy and was close to the President’s actual car when the accident occurred.
“It was alleged that the driver and his mother were assaulted by a group of protection unit members after the incident.
“A reporter was also threatened with arrest when approaching the security men for comment on the incident.
“However, police’s Sally de Beer said the man was a threat.
“De Beer said, “When it was noted that the red Golf was approaching the Presidents vehicle our lead vehicle intercepted which is normal procedure. And, the Golf then collided with the police vehicle. A man was arrested on suspicion of drunk and driving.”
One way or another, this is not the kind of publicity South Africa needs in the run-up to the soccer World Cup to be held here next year.
The incident took place on the highway near the Snake Park off-ramp at Benoni.
Eye witnesses told how a group of VIP Protection Unit officers allegedly held a gun to the man’s head and punched and kicked him before turning on the man’s mother and assaulting her when she tried to intervene to save her son.
This, following an incident last November when a “VIP Protection Unit officer allegedly shot at a car, causing it to collide with another vehicle on the N3 in Pietermaritzburg”, raises serious concerns about the unruly elements employed as officers in the units.
And incidents of this kind also serve to remind the public, here and abroad, of similar ugly incidents involving our police services in recent times around the country. It brings into question whether this country is headed down the banana republic road.
However, there may be another side to the story of events that unfolded at the Snake Road off-ramp. This version was picked up by a Canadian friend (the story has gone international):
“Drunk driver collides with Presidential convoy
Tshepo Lesole 4 Hours Ago
“Police have confirmed that the motorist who collided with a VIP Protection Unit vehicle on the N12 highway on Saturday was drunk.
“They reported that the driver of a red Golf was disturbing the President’s convoy and was close to the President’s actual car when the accident occurred.
“It was alleged that the driver and his mother were assaulted by a group of protection unit members after the incident.
“A reporter was also threatened with arrest when approaching the security men for comment on the incident.
“However, police’s Sally de Beer said the man was a threat.
“De Beer said, “When it was noted that the red Golf was approaching the Presidents vehicle our lead vehicle intercepted which is normal procedure. And, the Golf then collided with the police vehicle. A man was arrested on suspicion of drunk and driving.”
One way or another, this is not the kind of publicity South Africa needs in the run-up to the soccer World Cup to be held here next year.
