Dear Editor
The Democratic Alliance (DA) will continue to support the victims in their fight for justice in the ongoing #BlueLightMafia case after the defence’s attempt to have the charges struck from the roll under section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act failed in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court today.
The eight serving members of the South African Police Service’s Presidential Protection Services, attached to Deputy President Paul Mashatile, will finally face the might of the law when the trial continues on 23-27 March 2026.
For far too long, ANC politicians and their enforcers in blue lights have acted as though they are untouchable, assaulting citizens, intimidating motorists, and abusing power with zero consequences. Today’s ruling is a turning point that shows the rule of law still applies, even to those who think they are above it.
The ruling is a victory for justice, a victory for South Africans, and a warning to every politician who believes they can abuse state power without consequence.
The police members are charged with assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, malicious damage to property, reckless or negligent driving, pointing a firearm, and attempting to defeat the ends of justice.
Their legal team had argued there was no evidence on which the court could convict, which of course, is not true. The defence claimed that witnesses were unreliable, contradictory or intoxicated and more.
It was confirmed that video evidence is admissible, that testimony from passengers and the driver about the pointing of firearms is accepted, and that evidence of injuries and malicious damage to the complainants’ vehicle is accepted against all accused.
The judgment reaffirmed a fundamental principle: unlawful orders are not a defence. Police officers remain individually accountable when they act as a group or fail to intervene against colleagues committing unlawful acts.
This case continues to highlight the deep culture of impunity within parts of the VIP Protection Services of the SAPS, where accountability has too often been replaced by what seems to be protectionism.
In the internal SAPS disciplinary process, these same officers were cleared, and the same video footage, which the court has now accepted as credible evidence, was declared inadmissible by SAPS itself in disciplinary proceedings.
The contradiction between SAPS’ internal process and the court outcome is stark. It reflects how far parts of the institution have drifted from the standards of professionalism and integrity.
Today’s ruling sends a clear message: no one is above the law, not even those tasked with protecting the powerful. The DA applauds Action Society for its continued support for the victims of this heinous incident.
Regards
Ian Cameron MP
DA Deputy Spokesperson on Police