Rape cop fathered child with victim

A Seshego police officer, arrested for raping a detainee, fathered a child with another prisoner he allegedly raped.

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Polokwane - A Polokwane police officer who was arrested last week for raping a 22-year old detainee fathered the child of a 19-year old detainee whom he also allegedly raped in 2011.

Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) national spokeswoman Grace Langa said both rapes are alleged to have happened in the same office at Polokwane’s Seshego police station.

“As we continue with our investigation, it was revealed that the same police officer was reported in 2011 for allegedly raping a 19-year-old detainee at the same police station (Seshego) in the same office where he raped the recent victim of his rape,” said Langa

“It is alleged his colleagues covered his tracks by failing to obtain statements from witnesses, DNA tests, warning statements from the suspect, and no ID parade was conducted, the matter was never reported to Ipid and the victim was not offered counselling.”

The woman fell pregnant as a result of the alleged rape, giving birth later that year.

“The victim was told that her case does not have evidence and as a result the suspect officer will maintain the child once he is born. The child was born in October 2011 and it is alleged the officer had since bought him (the baby) a small tin of milk and never showed up again,” Langa said.

“The victim was later in the month arrested for alleged child negligence after she ran away from home as she could not stand looking at a child born out of rape and she was reported to the police by her family.”

While the woman was in custody on the child neglect charges, her alleged rapist paid her bail and asked her not to report him – promising to pay child maintenance, Langa said.

Langa said Ipid would re-open the 2011 rape case, and would oppose bail for the 51-year old officer when he appears in court on September 29.

Last week, Langa detailed the case of another Seshego police officer who was charged with rape, but had the case withdrawn before it could be investigated.

The police officer who is a Saint Engenas ZCC priest allegedly raped one of his congregants while praying for her.

When she complained to him, he said he was removing a “Tokoloshi” from her body.

The victim reported the rape to police, but the police officer then allegedly paid two female police officers R1500 each to make the victim sign a withdrawal statement and make the docket disappear. The two women took the victim to the doctor and later went to her home, allegedly to make her sign the withdrawal statement, Langa had said.

They would be charged with defeating the ends of justice and would appear in court on September 30, while the rape case against their colleague would be reinstated.

Langa said the Ipid had recommended that internal disciplinary action be taken against the two women, who have been removed from handling cases involving sexual offences or child abuse.

African News Agency