The State has revealed that threats have been directed to witnesses in the case of a 59-year-old SAPS Lieutenant-General accused of the alleged sexual grooming of a 16-year-old girl and the alleged rape of an 18-year-old woman.
The man, who is not being named by The National because he has not yet formally pleaded to the charges, was arrested by members of the Madlanga Commission’s Recommendations Task Team on Monday. Section 154(2)(b) of South Africa's Criminal Procedure Act makes it a criminal offence to publish the identity of a person accused of a sexual offence before they have entered a formal plea in court.
The officer, who had been among the law enforcement officials that testified at the commission, is expected to apply for bail on September 29, following his appearance at the Randburg Magistrate's Court in Gauteng on Tuesday.
Kaizer Kganyago, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority, said the suspect faces charges of grooming a minor, trafficking, and rape.
“The matter was postponed to 29 September for a bail hearing, and is a Schedule 6 offence,” he said.
Threats to witnesses
Kganyago also revealed that the accused was remanded at Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre.
“He will be taken to Kgosi Mampuru Prison in Pretoria The State indicated that there was intelligence that there is a possibility that he might escape in a case where he is put in a police station or at Johannesburg Central (prison),” Kganyago said.
He added the State would oppose bail and also indicated to the court that it was very difficult to arrest the suspect because of the intimidation and threats that were being directed at the witnesses in the matter.
A voice note was sent on Tuesday afternoon to witnesses indicating possible threats.
“The investigating officers have taken it upon themselves to protect the witnesses, and that is one of the reasons they are opposing bail, as they believe that there will be interference.”
He said the State had also told the court that it may not only be the accused who is making threats, “but there is people that are working with him” to intimidate the witnesses.
The State is tracing the devices that are being used to make the threats.
Police Commissioner and minister condemn allegations
Acting National Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, said, “Police officers are entrusted with protecting women and children. They cannot themselves be implicated in conduct that undermines this responsibility. As the country continues to confront the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide, there can be no room for anyone within the police service who is alleged to abuse their position or violate the rights of women and children.”
Acting Minister of Police, Firoz Cachalia, condemned the alleged conduct that resulted in the arrest.
Cachalia said these allegations are particularly troubling at a time when the country is confronting the devastating scourge of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF).
“The recent discovery of the bodies of nine women in Ekurhuleni has once again brought into sharp focus the vulnerability of women and the urgent responsibility of the Government to protect them and to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice. The SAPS cannot credibly lead the fight against gender-based violence while turning a blind eye to allegations of such conduct within its own ranks,” the acting minister said.
He added that the police’s commitment to combating GBVF must apply equally within the police service.
“Where allegations of sexual offences are made against a member of the Service, they must be investigated without fear or favour, irrespective of the rank or position of the individual concerned. This is why the arrest of any police official facing credible allegations of criminal conduct must be met with decisive and lawful action,” Cachalia stated.
He highlighted that a police officer, and particularly a senior police officer, is entrusted with enormous responsibility to protect members of the public, uphold the law and safeguard the rights and dignity of women and children.
Lisa Schickerling, DA spokesperson on Police, said that the suspect must be fired from the police if found guilty of the serious allegations of sexual grooming and rape he faces.
“This is the last straw; if found guilty, he must be fired,” Schickerling said.
gcwalisile.khanyile@nationalmg.co.za