Public shouldn’t foot VIP cops’ legal bills – Action Society
Action Society’s Ian Cameron has described the court decision to grant eight police officers, who are accused of assaulting motorists in Johannesburg, bail as “shocking”.
Shadrack Kojoana, Johannes Mampuru, Joseph Mofokeng, Harmans Ramokhonami, Phineas Boshielo, Churchill Mkhize, Aggrie Rambau, and Moses Tshidada, were each granted R10 000 bail in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
Cameron’s called on members of the public to demand that National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola not consider applications by the accused for assistance with their legal fees.
“Taxpayers will not foot the bill for SAPS members that publicly committed a violent crime - whether it is for their legal costs or for their salaries. We demand that their suspensions must at least be without pay and ideally that their employment with the SAPS is terminated as soon as possible,” he said.
"We applaud civil society and the media for taking up the responsibility to demand transparency and accountability," says Action Society's @IanCameron23.https://t.co/CtRdAdDR3f
— Action Society (@ActionSocietySA) August 1, 2023
Magistrate Hlezephi Mkhasibe rebuked the alleged actions of the officers during bail proceedings saying, on the day of the incident, they failed to uphold their oath to protect and safeguard the country against criminal activities while maintaining the highest ethical standards.
“On the day of the alleged incident, they gruesomely attacked the complainants for no justifiable reasons.”
She, however, found that the state had failed to successfully demonstrate that it was in the interest of justice to keep the accused behind bars.
READ: VIP cops linked to N1 assault granted R10 000 bail
CAMERON: STATE HAS POOR RECORD OF PROTECTING WHISTLEBLOWERS
When handing down bail judgment, Mkhasibe raised her views that the state’s approach to bringing the matter to court was “hasty and premature”.
The victims of the assault were yet to identify their alleged attackers, while the originator of an alleged threatening text message to one of the witnesses has not been established.
The state had also not contacted the motorist who captured the incident in a video that has since gone viral.
“Another hurdle that the state must overcome is that they don’t know the identity of their star witness who took the video footage at the crime scene,” Mkhasibe said.
Cameron said with the government’s poor witness protection record, it’s no wonder the witness was not willing to come forward: “Because of the state incapacity to protect whistleblowers and complainants in violent crimes in SA it is obvious that this is a threat to that person’s life, and I can understand is afraid of coming forward.”
He said even without the motorist coming forward, there was enough additional evidence to nab the officers on some of the other charges they face such as the contravention of the Firearms Act.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwana said although the motorist had chosen to remain anonymous, investigators know who they are.
“They are known to the state through the witness that they sent the video. Yes, we are yet to consult with them, but they are known to the state.”
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