News

The Deputy President has spoken out on Tuesday after a video of his VIP protection officers, allegedly assaulting three civilians on the Gauteng highway, went viral on social media.

“The Deputy President has become aware of an unfortunate incident involving members of the South African Police Service (SAPS), who are attached to his protection detail, and civilians, which occurred in Johannesburg over the weekend,” the Deputy President’s Office said in a brief statement. 

The second-in-command, according to the statement, abhors any unnecessary use of force, particularly against unarmed civilians. 

“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,” said the Deputy President.

According to the Deputy President’s Office, SAPS National Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, has promised a thorough investigation of the incident.

“The Deputy President appeals to the public to allow the SAPS the necessary space to complete its investigation into the incident and take whatever corrective action is deemed necessary. 

"The Deputy President has full confidence in the SAPS, under the leadership of Minister Bheki Cele and the command of General Masemola, to do the right thing in this regard.” 

Meanwhile, the police said they have since successfully traced the victims of this incident. 

“The process to obtain their statements continues as part of the probe,” the SAPS statement read, adding that the police officers involved have also been identified and will be subjected to internal processes. 

“Management of the SAPS views this as serious and will get to the bottom of this incident.” 

The SAPS has since distanced itself from the conduct and behaviour and said it does not align with the values and code of conduct of the SAPS needs to uphold. These include integrity, professionalism, accountability, and respect for human rights.

“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. Such action cannot be condoned regardless of the circumstance,” Masemola explained. – SAnews.gov.za

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DOJCD) has been fined R5 million by the Information Regulator for failing to comply with an enforcement notice issued in May.

The regulator issued the notice after the department contravened various sections of the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) following its failure to renew anti-virus and IT security solutions licenses.

“The Enforcement Notice had required the DOJCD to submit proof to the regulator within 31 days of receipt of the notice that the Trend Anti-Virus licence, the SIEM [security information and event management] licence and the Intrusion Detection System Licence have been renewed.

“It also required the department to institute disciplinary proceedings against the official/s who failed to renew the licences, which is necessary to safeguard the department against security compromises.

“The regulator indicated that should the DOJCD fail to abide by the Enforcement Notice within the stipulated timeframe, it will be guilty of an offence, in terms of which the regulator may impose an administrative fine in the amount not exceeding R10 million, or liable upon conviction to a fine or to imprisonment of the responsible officials,” the regulator said.

According to the independent body, the deadline for submitting proof that the licences had been renewed was 3 June – a deadline the department missed.

“To date, the department has not provided the regulator with a report on the implementation of the actions required in the enforcement notice or any other communication in that regard. The department had the right to appeal the Enforcement Notice in terms of section 97(1) of POPIA, and they have failed to exercise that right.

“Given this lack of compliance with the enforcement notice, the regulator has made a determination that the department has failed to comply with the Enforcement Notice served to it in terms of POPIA. Accordingly, the regulator has issued an administrative fine of R5 million to the department for failure to comply with the enforcement notice.

“The department has 30 days, from 3 July 2023, to pay the administrative fine or make arrangements with the regulator to pay the administrative fine in instalments or elect to be tried in court on a charge of having committed the alleged offence referred in terms of POPIA,” the regulator said. – SAnews.gov.za