Deputy President Paul Mashatile on Tuesday condemned acts of violence by his security detail and appealed to South Africans to allow law enforcement to complete its investigation.

This follows a viral video that showed unarmed civilians being assaulted by what looks like members of the South African Police Service (Saps) VIP Protection Unit, on a Johannesburg highway.

The video has angered many South Africans who are calling for the security detail involved to be brought to book.

In a statement, Mashatile said he has full confidence in the Saps under the leadership of Police Minister Bheki Cele and the command of National Police Commissioner General Fanie Masemola.  

“Members of the Saps are meant to uphold and protect the fundamental rights of every person and exercise the powers conferred upon them in a responsible and controlled manner,” he said.

He added that he abhors unnecessary force, particularly against unarmed civilians and revealed that Masemola had promised there would be an investigation into the matter.

Meanwhile, the Independent Investigative Directorate (Ipid) national spokesperson Robbie Raburabu has said that it is investigating the allegations of assault against members of Protection Security Services in the Saps.

Ipid has also contacted family members of the victims to lay a charge.

Raburabu says they have also contacted management of the Saps who are cooperating with the IPID investigation.