Steenhuisen: Blue lights assault a metaphor for ANC attitude to South Africans
DA leader John Steenhuisen believes the assault of motorists by a group of officers attached to the VIP Protection Unit represents the attitude of the ANC to the people of South Africa.
Steenhuisen made these remarks during an update on the formation of an opposition pact to unseat the ANC during next year’s elections.
A video depicting several members of the VIP protection unit, who were brandishing guns, assaulting at least two occupants of a blue VW Polo went viral on Monday.
In the video, one of the victims can be seen lying motionless after one of the officers kicked him in the head or face. At least three people from the car were filmed near the barrier on the side of the road, while a woman occupant fell back into the car as she looked on helplessly
It’s unclear what transpired before the attack, as the video starts with all cars stationary.
The South African Police Service said the officers had been identified and would be subjected to internal processes.
Steenhuisen said this was not the first time the ANC’s security forces had been caught abusing ordinary South Africans.
"We - all the people of South Africa - are the ones down on the ground. And the ANC are the thugs masquerading as a government, stomping on our neck.
"From Andries Tatane to Marikana, this is not the first time we have seen murderous abuse of power by the ANC’s security forces directed at ordinary citizens.
"This is no accident. The ANC spends R1.7 billion of taxpayer money to maintain this VIP unit as their own, personal army. As long as the ANC is in power, they will keep stomping on us."
He added that a united opposition provides an alternative to the ANC.
"Like many of you, and indeed like many other opposition leaders, I came to the conclusion that forming a united opposition pact ahead of the 2024 election offers us the very best chance to unseat the ANC, keep the EFF out of power, and form a stable new government to rescue South Africa.
"This ‘Moonshot Pact’ would bring together different parties - excluding the ANC, EFF and their proxies - to ensure that the opposition focuses our collective energies on defeating the ANC, rather than attacking each other.
The various parties are set to hold a convention in August to finalise the details of their agreement.
Seven parties, including the DA, IFP, Freedom Front Plus, ActionSA, United Independent Movement and the Spectrum National Party are currently part of the pact.
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