The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) has expressed contempt for the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) remarks regarding Popcru’s alleged interference in disciplinary proceedings against VIP Protection Unit members assigned to Deputy President, Paul Mashatile.

Popcru says it rejects the DA’s attempt to disgrace organized labour and mislead the public for political gain. It says this is a distortion of Popcru’s legitimate role as a trade union.

The union says in a statement it does not dictate or interfere with SAPS disciplinary processes, which are governed by labour legislation, South African Police Service (SAPS) codes, and collective agreements.

[WATCH] The DA calls for transparency in the police internal disciplinary hearing that led to the acquittal of Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s VIP protection officers. Chairperson of Parliament’s portfolio committee on police and DA MP, Ian Cameron, says this is extremely… pic.twitter.com/9hO1H0VmTo

— SABC News (@SABCNews) May 8, 2025

“We remind the DA that fair process is not a privilege-it is a constitutional guarantee. It is enshrined in the very Labour Relations Act that the DA has historically tried to dismantle. Their newfound love for “accountability” rings hollow against their track record of union-bashing, disdain for collective rights, and attempts to turn law enforcement officers into disposable pawns,” explains POPCRU spokesperson, Richard Mamabolo.

He says that if the DA truly respected the law, they would stop playing judge, jury and executioner in press statements, and allow SAPS and its internal systems to run their course.