Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has expressed confidence in the police's VIP Protection Services Unit's performance, claiming it was doing its job very well.

A Cape Times report says responding to a question in the NCOP yesterday, Mchunu said SAPS has not received any complaints from the high-profile political figures who are protected by the unit.

‘If you take any threat or any incident targeting VIPs or anyone provided with security, we have not received any complaint that the services rendered to them were inadequate. We are satisfied that SAPS are doing their job. They are doing well in that aspect of providing VIP services to designated VIPs. I am satisfied, but indicate it is trickling to us that the demand that is being made on SAPS on this matter needs to always be under control by the National Commissioner and all of us so that we don't find ourselves in a problem in this regard,’ said Mchunu.

Asked about the recent attack on the convoy of Deputy President Paul Mashatile, the Minister said National Commissioner Fannie Masemola confirmed that the incident had allegedly happened as reported in the media and that the matter was under investigation.

‘The National Commissioner will, at the right time, make good of that statement. We are encouraging him to finalise that report and make it public,’ he said about the investigation into the shooting at Mashatile's convoy.

Asked about the steps he was taking to ensure that incidents involving Mashatile's convoy are not used to justify further escalation of costs of the VIP protection at public expense, Mchunu said the protection of VIPs was regulated by a Cabinet-approved policy and risk management system protection package.

‘The policy specifies that the provision of VIP is based on risk determination. Threat assessment will determine security measures for VIPs,’ he said.

Full Cape Times report