Captain accused of raping trainee at Tshwane Police Academy suspended without pay

A 59-year-old police captain accused of raping two trainees at the Tshwane Police Academy has been suspended without pay, pending disciplinary proceedings.

The accused appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Thursday for the continuation of his bail application.

The captain, who serves as an instructor at the academy in Pretoria West, faces charges of rape and sexual assault.

The incident occurred on 6 May, when the captain allegedly called a 20-year-old trainee into his office while she was walking with her platoon to their sleeping quarters.

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According to the South African Police Service (Saps), he locked the door and threatened her with disciplinary action over a previous incident from April, in which she had allegedly failed to salute him.

It is then alleged that he raped her.

Following his arrest the next day, a second trainee came forward with allegations that the same captain sexually assaulted her on 17 March.

More victims may still come forward as the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) continues its investigation into other possible incidents.

Tshwane Police Academy instructor suspended after rape

Speaking to the media outside court on Thursday, national police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe confirmed that further investigations are underway and additional resources have been allocated to the case by National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola.

“We are now aware that a second victim has come forward. Initially, we had one victim that was allegedly raped on the 6th of May, and within less than 24 hours, we managed to effect the arrest.

“We have been creating that awareness within the academy to ensure our police trainees speak out against gender-based violence. Our academies are meant to be safe havens.

“They are not in an environment where the youth, young people in this country are meant to be violated,” she said.

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Mathe also confirmed that the captain has been officially suspended from duty.

“We have suspended his salary. We have also suspended him, and his disciplinary hearing is expected to be heard on the 4th and 5th of June.”

The state is opposing his release on bail.

“From the day of his arrest, the 7th of May, he has been in police custody… and we will support the opposing of bail.”

She further confirmed that the first complainant has been receiving psychological and emotional support from Saps.

“The 20-year-old police trainee has been receiving maximum support from our employee health and wellness unit. We have our psychologists, our social workers [who] have been providing the necessary counselling to this particular trainee.”