Travellers who were severely assaulted by members of Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s VIP protection unit on the N1 in Joburg last week had retained solicitors to ensure that the police officers were charged with crimes, and the prospect of bringing civil lawsuits was being investigated.
Ulrich Roux, a prominent lawyer of Ulrich Roux & Associates, told Newzroom Afrika that his firm’s “mission is to act on behalf of three of those four highway assault victims.”
“Our mandate is to ensure that the criminal prosecution is ensued and that proper prosecution by the NPA is instituted against the police officials,” he told the radio.
“Subsequent to that, we will also be exploring possible civil claims for damages against the police, and the minister of police following this unlawful assault on our clients.”
As long as he had time to get guidance from his clients, Roux clarified that the damages might be brought against the police officers in their individual capacities.
“Our first responsibility is to make sure that the case is brought forward and that the [National Prosecuting Authority] NPA does so once the police, or in this case, the [Independent Police Investigative Directorate] Ipid, has conducted an investigation. After that, we will pursue a damages suit,” he declared.
“There are no clear instructions on that yet, but typically when you institute a civil claim for damages against the police, you institute that action against the policeman in their individual capacity as well as against the minister of police.”
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