Action Society welcomes dismissal of Mashatile's VIP officers Section 174 application

In a significant development for the ongoing case involving the infamous BlueLightMafia, civil society movement Action Society has welcomed the Randburg Regional Court’s ruling regarding the Section 174 application brought by eight officers of the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) VIP Protection Service. These officers are accused of violently assaulting motorists on the N1 highway in July 2023.

Civil rights movement, Action Society, has welcomed the judgment in the Section 174 application brought by the eight SAPS VIP Protection Service officers, infamously dubbed the BlueLightMafia, following the violent assault on motorists on the N1 in July 2023.

This comes as the Randburg Magistrate's Court on Thursday dismissed an application by the eight former members of the SAPS VIP Presidential Protection Unit to have charges of assault and malicious damage to property against them dropped.

The eight suspects who were wearing face masks appeared before the Randburg Magistrates Court, where their matter was postponed to 23 March to 27 March 2026.

The accused, identified as Johannes Mampuru, Shadrack Kojoana, Pomso Mofokeng, Harmans Ramokgonami, Churchill Mkhize, Phineas Boshielo, Lesibana Rambau, and Moses Tshidada, face charges including assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and malicious damage to property.

Meanwhile, Mkhize, Boshielo, and Tshidada face charges of pointing firearms, while Mampuru and Rambau are charged with reckless driving.

The bodyguards had sought to have their assault charges dropped, with Magistrate Abdul Khan ruling on the dismissal of their Section 174 discharge application relating to the assault charges.

The officers are accused of assaulting civilians on the side of the Johannesburg N1 highway in July 2023, after a video clip shared on social media showed them brandishing firearms against a group of trainee soldiers, who were travelling in a VW Polo.

The Randburg Regional Court today ruled that only one charge – attempting to defeat the administration of justice – would be discharged. All other charges will proceed, including pointing a firearm, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, malicious property damage, and reckless and negligent driving.

Action Society spokesperson Juanita du Preez said the organisation is satisfied with the outcome, adding that Thursday’s outcome is an important step toward accountability.

“We are satisfied with the ruling. There is a vast contrast between the results of the internal disciplinary hearing, which rejected the main evidence, and what is now unfolding in court. The police’s inability to police itself has been exposed. The disciplinary action against these eight officers should be reinstated following the clarity that has emerged from this judgment. At the very least, these officers should be suspended again, because they are all back on active duty.”

Du Preez added that Thursday’s ruling also clarified which of the accused will face which specific charges, confirming that prosecution will continue against some, and in certain instances all, of the accused.

The matter has been postponed to 23–27 March 2026 for the continuation of the trial.