A POLICE instructor from the Philippi SAPS Training Academy has been arrested in connection with a rape of a police trainee.
The woman was allegedly invited to the instructor's office on several occasions before the incident but turned down the invitations.
On the day of the incident, 31 March, she finally went to the office after much pressure from the instructor.
On arrival at the office, the instructor quickly locked the door and allegedly raped her.
The woman didn’t report the matter immediately after the incident, but a few days later, the matter was referred to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid), leading to the instructor's arrest.
A source close to the incident, who spoke to Daily Sun, said the instructor who is a captain met the trainee at the smoking area, and that's where he asked her to come to his office, and allegedly raped her.
Police spokeswoman Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that the officer was suspended after the matter came to light.
“SAPS training academies are supposed to be safe havens for young men and women and not scenes of crime. We're an organisation that doesn’t allow the abuse of women, children and vulnerable groups within our ranks,” said Mathe.
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Ipid spokesman Phaladi Shuping confirmed the incident.
“It is alleged that the instructor locked the door once the complainant was inside and raped her. She was allowed to leave after the alleged rape, but she did not report the incident immediately. She only reported the incident a few days later and the case was reported to Ipid for investigations,” said Shuping.
The instructor was arrested on Sunday, 21 April. He is facing charges of rape.
He appeared in the Wynberg Magistrates Court on Monday, 22 April. He was remanded in custody and will apply for bail on 2 May.
The SAPS academy recently found itself in controversy after four trainees were bust with live ammunition in September 2023.
The trainees, three men and a woman, were charged and appeared in the Philippi Magistrates Court for possession of live ammunition.
However, they were due to insufficient evidence.
