Sunday Times reports that attorney Daniel Eloff, who is representing L’vaughn Fisher, the 25-year-old infantryman assaulted by members of the police’s VIP protection unit two weekends ago, says he is suing the police service for a million rand.

While the claim for now was is R1m, the “amount may be amended after all medical reports have been obtained”. Eloff and Ulrich Roux, representing the other three victims who were in the car, confirmed that none of the police officers concerned have officially been charged, despite damning footage showing their faces and the assault itself. The identities of the eight officers have been kept under wraps as they have yet to be charged. Meanwhile, their victims have apparently been prevented from speaking out by their employer, the defence force. Last Monday, a video went viral showing members of Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s protection team assaulting motorists on the N1 near Fourways, Johannesburg, on Sunday. In the video, Fisher can be seen unconscious on the side of the road. Eloff confirmed that his client had opened a criminal case. “The Ipid [Independent Police Investigative Directorate] complaint has been lodged. Ipid has conducted interviews with our client. He’s been there and they’ve discussed it with him. We know that a case has been opened at the Sandton police station,” Eloff indicated. On Thursday, national police commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola announced that the eight VIP officers had been suspended and temporarily removed from their posts “pending the outcome of our investigation”.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Khanyisile Ngcobo at Sunday Times (subscriber access only)

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