By: Natasha Archary

President Cyril Ramaphosa said he is not planning on removing Deputy President, Paul Mashatile from office despite mounting calls to do so.
This after Mashatile’s VIP Protection Unit were caught on camera assaulting motorists on William Nicol last week.
Although the Deputy President issued a statement removing himself from being present at the time of the graphic assault, there were calls from opposition parties for Ramaphosa to remove Mashatile from office.
Responding to the question during an interview with City Press, Ramaphosa said he has no intention of removing Mashatile as his second, saying his Deputy has an important role in his Cabinet.
“The fact is that I am the only one who appointed the Deputy President, I am the only one who could remove him unless the party says so.”
Ramaphosa says he’s not planning on removing Mashatile from office
Mashatile condemned the incident involving members of his security detail, saying he abhors any unnecessary use of force, particularly on unarmed civilians.
The three men who were assaulted by the Deputy President’s VIP Protection Unit were trainees with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
SAPS has since suspended all 8 men who were involved in the assault incident, pending the results of an investigation by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).
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