File picture: Independent Newspapers
By Mashudu Sadike
THE INDEPENDENT Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) has raised concerns about the high number of law enforcement officials being arrested, with a case in the Northern Cape the most recent incident highlighted by the police watchdog.
From April 7 to date, scores of police officials have been arrested on various charges, ranging from murder and attempted murder to discharging their police firearms and rape.
Ipid spokesperson Phaladi Shuping expressed concern this week about the alarming number of police officials being arrested or appearing in court recently, saying it was “disappointing”.
Shuping said Ipid could not say why this had become a problem recently, noting that the selection process was the responsibility of the SAPS.
“As Ipid, we are aware of these incidents and we need all law enforcement officers to assist in the fight against crime due to the high rate of crime in our country. It is disappointing when there are allegations of criminality against law enforcement officers,” he said.
In the last month, a number of rape charges have been laid against police officials, with some allegedly raping their loved ones, while senior officers have been accused of raping trainees.
“There are six within the last month, with one who had to appear twice because we issued a statement on his arrest on April 22 and again after he was released on warning on May 2,” he said.
The latest rape accused, arrested on Monday, May 6, is a 34-year-old police constable from Richmond in the Northern Cape.
The constable appeared in the Richmond Regional Court on charges of rape and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Shuping said the constable reportedly accused his 21-year-old girlfriend of cheating on him and he allegedly assaulted her by kicking her all over her body and face and afterwards had sexual intercourse with her without her consent.
“The case was postponed to May 14 for a formal bail application,” he added.
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On May 2, a police captain was arrested by Ipid officials for the alleged rape of a female police trainee but was released on warning by the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court.
“The 50-year-old police officer was arrested by Ipid for the alleged rape of a 30-year-old female trainee. The alleged incident happened on March 31, 2024, when the instructor called the trainee into his office at the Philippi Police Training Academy and allegedly raped her.
“The case was postponed to June 26, 2024, for further investigation,” Shuping said.
In another case on April 30, a 39-year-old Tshwane metro police officer was arrested for the alleged rape of a 30-year-old woman.
Shuping said it was alleged that the complainant arrived in Pretoria on April 27 from Mpumalanga to meet her boyfriend. She did not know where he stayed. He was supposed to have picked her up at a bus stop.
“She tried to call him but his phone was off and she decided to get directions to the nearest police station. She was directed to the offices of the TMPD where she met the suspect. He offered her a place to stay for the night but allegedly raped her.”
Shuping said another training instructor was arrested on a rape charge on April 22 after he allegedly forced himself on a female police trainee.
Also last month, Captain Andre Bekkies, who was attached to Protection and Security Services, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for raping and sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl on December 13, 2019.
The South African Police Service referred media enquiries to Ipid for comment.