VIP Unit assault victims 'have shared their side of story'
The South African
National Defence Union has confirmed that the motorists who were assaulted by
the SAPS VIP unit are all South African National Defence Force members.
The incident took place on the N1 in Johannesburg at the weekend.
The union's spokesperson Pikkie Greef says the victims shared their version of events on the day they got assaulted by the VIP officers.
"Which is basically that an SUV appeared next to his car on the N1 with a man pointing a rifle or a weapon at his car. Subsequently, more SUVs joined and the victim's car was boxed off to the side of the N1 where the assailants of the SUV got out and smashed the back window and assaulted the driver and his passengers."
Police watchdog IPID has advised the three men not to engage with the SAPS while the investigation continues.
Greef says they support this approach.
READ: Four Mashatile VIP protectors suspended
The men face three counts of assault to cause grievous bodily harm, pointing a firearm and malicious damage to property.
The matter was handed over to IPID.
"The union's view that IPID should be given space to investigate this matter properly and that the victims as well should be given space and time to decide whether they want to pursue charges against police and whether they want to institute civil lawsuits against the Minister of Police and the Commissioner of Police."
