North West MEC for Public Safety, Howard Yawa comments the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) for the arrest of four Rustenburg policemen for the alleged rape of a woman while she was in police custody.
The four suspects were arrested on Friday on the suspicion that one of them raped the woman in the police cells. The complainant in the case alleges that three of the policemen who were in another office at the time were aware of the rape that occurred on the night of 29 September 2009 but did not come to her rescue during the ordeal.
“Police stations are supposed to be places of safety for the weak and vulnerable, therefore the occurrence of a despicable and heinous crime at a police station allegedly committed by a member of the police service is deplorable to say the least,” says MEC Yawa.
MEC Yawa has welcomed progress in the investigations and calls on the ICD to finalise the investigation into the alleged rape as a matter of urgency. Yawa says that the scope of the investigation should include the alleged refusal of Tlhabane police to open a case against the suspect or suspects when the complainant went to the police station to open a case the day after the alleged rape.
The complainant opened the case against the suspect or suspects at Hercules South African Police Service (SAPS) station in Gauteng whereupon it was transferred to Rustenburg police station for investigation.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 381 9171
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018 381 9123
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
