This news aggregator site highlights South African labour news from a wide range of internet and print sources. Each posting has a synopsis of the source article, together with a link or reference to the original. Postings cover the range of labour related matters from industrial relations to generalist human resources.News24 reports that the defence attorney for eight former VIP officers, who were tasked with protecting Deputy President Paul Mashatile, says they will plead not guilty to malicious damage to property as they needed to gain access to a car they considered a threat.
The officers are on trial for allegedly assaulting the driver of a VW Polo on the N1 in Johannesburg in 2023. They were caught on a video that went viral, showing them dragging a man from a metallic blue VW Polo and kicking him as he lay on the ground. Wednesday was the third day of cross-examination of the driver of the vehicle, who sustained injuries after Mashatile's convoy stopped him on the N1. Defence lawyer Mswazi Makhubele argued: "When opening the boot, the accused wanted to search if there were any dangerous objects in the car because the manner you were driving in gave them the impression that you are posing a danger to the convoy." The witness denied this and pointed out that it was not necessary to damage the car because the accused did not search the car after breaking the window. "The only thing they found in the boot was bottles of beer and that's why they decided to leave because there was nothing dangerous," Makhubele said. The witness said: “I agree they found nothing dangerous, but what doesn't sit well with me was how they left me unconscious on the ground.” Makhubele maintained the officers did not notice he was unconscious, but rather believed he was intoxicated. He said the accused claimed the witness was driving recklessly that day. The witness denied this and said it was the officers who had been reckless because they pushed him off the road.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Aphelele Mbokotho at News24
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