KEY POINTS
- No arrests have been made three weeks after gunfire struck Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s convoy on the N12 highway, with SAPS and PPU still investigating.
- Mashatile’s security team has faced prior scrutiny, with eight officers currently on trial for a 2023 assault case involving civilians.
- The incident raises concerns about political safety and law enforcement effectiveness, with analysts questioning whether the attack was targeted or random.
Three weeks after a concerning incident was quietly swept under the rug, new reports reveal that the official convoy of Deputy President Paul Mashatile was targeted in a shooting.
The attack occurred on the N12 highway while Mashatile was returning from an African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Boksburg, Gauteng.
Eyewitnesses claim that one of the vehicles in the deputy president’s motorcade was struck by three bullets. “All we know is that the car was hit [by gunfire] after leaving the NEC meeting,” confirmed Mashatile’s spokesperson, Keith Khoza.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Presidential Protection Unit (PPU) have launched a joint investigation. However, national police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe declined to provide further details, citing the sensitivity of the ongoing probe.
The Citizen reports that the lack of arrests has raised questions about the motive behind the attack. Some analysts speculate it could be politically motivated, given the ANC’s internal tensions, while others suggest it may have been a random act of criminality.
Khoza assured the public that the PPU acted swiftly to secure Mashatile, who was unharmed. “The issue is currently being handled by the [SAPS] general responsible for presidential security services and the related arms of the police force,” he stated.
Notably, the PPU did not return fire during the incident, prioritizing the deputy president’s safety over engagement. “We are waiting for the full report from the relevant people once the investigation is done so that we can know the motive and possibly the arrest of those who did it,” Khoza added.
Mashatile: Past controversies involving his security detail
This is not the first time Mashatile’s security team has been embroiled in controversy. In July 2023, eight members of his VIP protection unit were caught on camera assaulting civilians on the N1 Highway in Johannesburg.
The officers—Shadrack Molekatlane Kojana, Johannes Matome Mampuru, Posmo Joseph Mofokeng, Harmans Madumetja Ramokhonami, Phineas Molefo Boshielo, Churchill Mpakamaseni Mkhize, Lesiba Aggrie Ramabu, and Moses Fhatuwani—are currently on trial for charges including assault, reckless driving, and attempting to obstruct justice.
Despite their suspension, the officers were later reinstated with full pay and are out on R10,000 bail each. Mashatile distanced himself from the incident, clarifying that he was not present during the altercation.
