According to the SAPS, three categories of people have received such protection. The first covers members of the legislature, including Speakers and Deputy Speakers of national and provincial legislatures, as well as the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces. The second covers senior members of the judiciary such as the Chief Justice, Deputy Chief Justice, Judge Presidents, and heads of key courts. The third category consists of ad-hoc VIPs, defined as individuals of strategic importance whose protection is based on confirmed security threats. Such protection is temporary and withdrawn once threats are deemed to have subsided.

From 2020/21 to 2024/25, SAPS protected 22 members of the legislature and 14 members of the judiciary annually. The number of ad-hoc VIPs fluctuated, with 11 in 2020/21, peaking at 25 in 2022/23, and dropping to 14 in 2024/25.

The total costs, excluding salaries for close protection officers, travel expenses, and the cost of vehicles (provided by relevant departments), amounted to R71.27 million for legislature members, R45.35 million for judicial figures, and R53.13 million for ad-hoc VIPs over the five years.

SAPS stated that the protection of provincial premiers, members of the executive council, and the judiciary is mandated under Cabinet Memorandum 1A of 2004 and SAPS divisional directives. Ad-hoc protection is determined by threat and risk assessments conducted by the intelligence community.

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The officers – Shadrack Kojoana, Johannes Mampuru, Posmo Mofokeng, Harmans Ramokhonami, Phineas Boshielo, Churchill Mkhize, Lesiba Ramabu, and Moses Fhatuwani – remain out on R10 000 bail each and still face 12 criminal charges, including assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, malicious damage to property, reckless driving, and obstruction of justice. Their criminal trial is set to resume at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on 10 June 2025.

The internal police disciplinary acquittal has triggered widespread condemnation. Democratic Alliance MP and Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron, called the decision “a national shame and miscarriage of justice,” arguing that it undermines public trust in the SAPS and reinforces perceptions that police officers are above the law. Cameron described the internal disciplinary process as a “tick-box exercise” and criticized the role of police unions in stalling proceedings, labelling the outcome as “weaponised bureaucracy funded by taxpayers”.

Footage of the incident, which circulated widely on social media, showed the officers brandishing rifles and pistols as they assaulted the occupants of a VW Polo. Despite the video evidence, the officers were reinstated to non-operational office roles in October 2023 after their suspensions lapsed under SAPS regulations.

Cameron has pledged to write to the Police Minister and National Commissioner demanding an explanation for the acquittal, and the committee is considering legislative reforms to address perceived weaknesses in SAPS’s internal disciplinary mechanisms.

“This ruling sends a dangerous message to both the public and the police that brutality will be tolerated and even protected behind closed doors. It makes a mockery of justice, further alienates the public from law enforcement and threatens to sabotage the criminal case that still lies ahead. The victims have suffered deeply, physically, emotionally, financially, psychologically for them to now see the attackers walk free from internal accountability,” said Juanita du Preez, Action Society Spokesperson.

The outcome has left victims and the public dismayed, with critics warning that such decisions further erode already low levels of trust in law enforcement. The criminal case, however, remains ongoing, with the next court date scheduled for June.

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