Ian Cameron chairperson of the portfolio committee on police in parliament. Image: TimesLive.
(The Post News)- The Democratic Alliance (DA) has demanded a full review of the South African Police Services (SAPS) following the acquittal of Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s VIP Protection officers on Tuesday, 6 April 2025.
In July 2023, footage circulated on social media in which men who were later found to be Mashatile’s security detail were seen assaulting a motorist at the side of the highway.
He called for quick improvements to the SAPS’s flawed internal structure, criminal prosecution of the officers, and accountability from Major General Wally Rhoode. According to him, VIP protection cannot operate above the law, and the DA intends to fight tirelessly for justice to prevail.
Cameron highlighted that bodyguards assigned to the Deputy President operated as a law unto themselves—emboldened by institutional protection and unchecked by consequence—adding that the acquittal shows that they are shielded from the standards that apply to everyone.
Cameron criticized Rhoode, head of the Presidential Protection Service, for his questionable behavior during the Phala Phala farm burglary, including the alleged illegal investigation and reluctance to disclose the crime. He further questioned Rhoode’s fitness for office, adding that he must be held accountable.
Furthermore, the DA has demanded that SAPS’ internal disciplinary regulations be reviewed and overhauled to guarantee that violent misconduct leads to actual and timely repercussions, rather than protecting bureaucracy.
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