The MPs, Police Portfolio Committee Chairpersons Ian Cameron, Nicholas Gotsell, and Lisa Schickerling, had been conducting an unannounced inspection at the SAPS Philippi Training Academy. According to reports, their vehicle was ambushed on the return journey, with assailants hurling bricks and rocks. Windows were smashed and the MPs brutally assaulted. Gotsell and Cameron sustained serious injuries, while Schickerling escaped with minor wounds.

In a statement, the Presiding Officers expressed deep concern, warning that such attacks not only endanger public representatives but also undermine Parliament’s constitutional duty to hold state institutions accountable through oversight. They conveyed wishes for a full and speedy recovery to the affected members and called on law enforcement to ensure the perpetrators are swiftly apprehended and prosecuted.

Nicholas Gotsell described the ordeal, noting that a brick shattered the window next to him and struck his head, leaving an open wound. “Lisa was bruised and took a knock to the head, whilst Ian has sustained injuries which had to be stitched up as well as dental damage. We are all fine,” he said.

Gotsell stressed that the attack went beyond personal harm. “This was not just [a physical] attack. It was an attack on police oversight and the will of the people and their representatives to build safer communities. This was not a deterrent, it was a reminder of the aggression and brutality that our communities are faced with every day. We will continue to do the work we were elected to do.”

He also praised emergency responders for their swift assistance, commending SAPS, Metro Police, Metro EMS, CPI, and ER24. Special mention was made of ER24 paramedic Jason Pereira and his colleague for their professionalism and care under dangerous circumstances.

Parliament has urged calm while investigations proceed, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring the safety of Members as they carry out constitutional oversight in communities across South Africa.

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These visits form part of the committee’s ongoing oversight programme, which seeks to provide members with first-hand insight into the conditions of correctional facilities and facilitate direct engagement with correctional officials on the ground.

As part of the programme, the committee will also meet with various stakeholders, including the National Efficiency Enhancement Committee, which works to improve case-flow management between the police, courts, and correctional centres. Strengthening this process is expected to enhance the management of remand detainees, ultimately contributing to a reduction in inmate populations.

Committee Chairperson Kgomotso Ramolobeng emphasized the importance of the visits, noting that they follow recent briefings from the Department of Correctional Services on critical issues such as inmate-to-official ratios, infrastructure conditions, escape prevention, and inmate statistics.

“We are embarking on this oversight visit with the firm intention of fulfilling our role in addressing the challenges facing correctional facilities,” said Ms. Ramolobeng.

The committee will visit the following correctional centres:

• Ebongweni Correctional Centre
• Durban Westville Correctional Centre
• Qalakabusha Correctional Centre
• Eshowe Correctional Centre

The findings from these visits will inform future legislative and policy interventions, ensuring that correctional facilities operate efficiently, humanely, and in line with rehabilitation objectives.

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