Assault Charges Against Mashatile’s Former Bodyguards Upheld
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has welcomed the Randburg Magistrate’s Court’s decision to dismiss an application to drop assault charges against eight former bodyguards of Deputy President Paul Mashatile.
The officers — Shadrack Kojoana, Johannes Mampuru, Joseph Mofokeng, Harmans Madumetja, Phineas Boshielo, Churchill Mkhize, Lesibana Rambau, and Moses Tshidada — had applied for a discharge under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act, seeking to have the case thrown out.
The charges stem from an incident on 2 July 2023, when members of the VIP Presidential Protection Unit were allegedly filmed assaulting off-duty trainee soldiers and pointing firearms at them near the William Nicol off-ramp on the N1 towards Pretoria.
According to IPID spokesperson Lizzy Suping, the court ruled that there was sufficient evidence for the matter to proceed. “The accused officers appeared in court today after their legal representative brought an application for discharge in terms of Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act,” Suping said.
The court confirmed that all eight accused will continue to face charges of malicious damage to property and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Additionally, Boshielo, Mkhize, and Tshidada face charges of pointing a firearm, while Mampuru and Rambau are also charged with reckless and negligent driving.
The trial has been scheduled to continue from 23 to 27 March 2026.