Eight officers of the South African Police Services VIP Protection Unit who allegedly assaulted civilians on a highway in Johannesburg have been suspended with immediate effect.

The policemen, who are members of the VIP protection unit attached to the security detail of Vice President Paul Mashatile, were suspended after an investigation into the incident came to a conclusion.

The officers were captured on camera assaulting three citizens on a highway.

Shocking video of the attack went viral in South Africa and beyond last week, showing the armed members of the Police assaulting the men on the N1 highway.

In the video, one of the officers can be seen dragging one of the victims to the edge of the roadway before hitting and kicking him on the ground.

It’s unclear if the officers will continue to receive their monthly wages and benefits while on suspension.

Meanwhile, civil society organizations have called for the VIP protection unit to be dismantled because they see a mismatch in government spending, with more monies going to protect ministers than civilians.

It was reported that the South African government allocated R1.9 billion to the VIP protection section in the previous fiscal year.

In comparison, R2.247 billion was allocated to the whole South African Police Services to protect the South African people.