The IFP is disgusted by the arrogant response of MEC for Social Development Meshack Radebe who has distanced himself from the incident on the N3 near Pietermaritzburg on Saturday, where a member of his VIP security unit shot at a motorist who failed to move into a lower lane, causing an accident that left eight people injured.   

"There is no question that MEC Radebe bears responsibility for the behaviour of people whom he himself hired in preference to the SAPS VIP unit he would otherwise be entitled to," said Leader of the Official Opposition in KwaZulu Natal, Dr Lionel Mtshali. 

Only last week, it emerged in the KwaZulu Natal Provincial Parliament's finance committee that the MEC had hired a private security unit, incurring extra cost to the taxpayer and imposing an additional burden on his department's budget, already overspent by some R100-million. 

"Had the MEC settled for a VIP security unit ordinarily available to ministers from the ranks of the SAPS, this unfortunate incident could have been avoided since SAPS security officers are routinely subjected to rigorous training," said Dr Mtshali. 

The IFP has also dismissed the MEC's excuse that he was not present when the incident occurred. "The MEC's absence makes the incident even more serious. If Rabede was not in the car, how can his security unit justify their use of blue lights?" - said Dr Mtshali. 

The IFP sees the Saturday shooting incident on the N3 as the last straw and will be calling for a review of regulations that govern the use of the infamous blue lights by public office bearers.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
 Dr Lionel Mtshali
083 256 4902