One of the complainants in the assault case of eight former Presidential Protection Services officers linked to Deputy President Paul Mashatile, was so badly injured that he could have ‘died in his sleep’, his friend told the Randburg Magistrate's Court yesterday.

The friend, who can't be identified in terms of a court order, testified: ‘His face, mouth and clothes were covered in blood. He was bleeding from his ears.’

She was the owner of the VW Polo her friend and his friends had driven at the time of the alleged assault, reports News24.

She said she had surgery and the alleged victim had been helping to drive her around. She later lent him her car for a trip to Potchefstroom. After their return, she went to Thaba Tshwane military base with a driver to fetch the car but was shocked to find her car damaged.

‘I was in a state and started screaming,’ she said.

She says she went to see the alleged victim and started shouting at him before she realised something was wrong.

‘He could not answer me and looked confused. We went outside and as we reached the steps, he couldn't stand on his feet.'

She said her friend could not remember what had happened, but he suspected that he had been hijacked.

‘He was scared to go to the doctor and didn't want to go to the police to open a case. All he could remember were black vehicles and weapons. I remember him specifically mentioning rifles.’

He was only later treated at a hospital for his injuries. In a video that went viral after the incident of 2 July 2023, officers can be seen kicking and beating two men who were travelling in a blue VW Polo.

Shadrack Kojoana, Johannes Mampuru, Pomso Mofokeng, Harmans Ramokhonami, Phineas Boshielo, Churchill Mkhize, Lesibana Rambau, and Moses Tshidada face 12 charges.

They include pointing a firearm, reckless and negligent driving, malicious damage to property, assault GBH, obstruction of justice, and assault by threat.

Full News24 report