Deputy President Paul Mashatile's security heightened following assassination attempt

POLICE have reinforced  the  security detail to both President Cyril Ramaphosa and his deputy Paul Mashatile after the latter escaped an alleged assassination attempt when shots were fired at his convoy. 

Mashatile had been returning from an ANC meeting in Boksburg when his convoy came under fire. He confirmed he initially thought stones were being hurled at the vehicle, to discover that it was being shot at. 

The incident sparked fears over the deputy president’s safety. However, in a statement on Tuesday night, police commissioner Fannie Masemola’s spokesperson Athlenda Mathe, said the police head assured the nation that the executive of the country, including Ramaphosa and Mashatile, were in safe hands.

“While it is not common practice to discuss safety and security aspects of the executive, the National Commissioner deems it fit to assure the country that sufficient resources are always assigned to safeguard members of the national executive. General Fannie Masemola confirms a shooting incident involving the Deputy President's convoy. Following the incident, an extensive investigation was conducted and still underway with the ballistics report already concluded,” she said. 

Mathe said Crime Intelligence had been seized with conducting its regular risk and threat assessment on both the President and the Deputy President.

“General Fannie Masemola confirms the reinforcement of security detail to both principals and has also expressed gratitude with the manner in which members of the Presidential Protection Service (PPS) safeguard and handle the safety of both principals. Members of the  PPS who are assigned to both the President and the Deputy President are trained to a high level of skill and possess the necessary expertise and capabilities to avert any risk and threat. The resources assigned to safeguard the executive are also adequate and designed to prevent any direct and imminent threat on their lives,” she said. 

Anyone with information about the incident can anonymously contact Crime Stop on 0860010111 or use the MySaps app.