Delay in verdict of rape case involving two police officers

The case of two police officers

— one accused of raping his girlfriend’s daughter and another for failing to report the rape — has hit a delay.

The accused were in the East London high court on Wednesday where they were scheduled to hear the verdict of their trial.

However, judge Thembekile Malusi said he was not in a position to hand down the judgment.

They sat in the dock side-byside as Malusi addressed the court during their brief appearance.

“I regret that I ’ m not in a position to give judgment today.

“The reasons have been conveyed to the legal representatives,” Malusi said.

“I apologise to everyone here and especially [the accused] because I imagine they are anxious to get to the finality of the matter.

“I assure you [accused] the matter will be finalised this week.”

During the trial, the court heard that the mother of the minor failed to report her child being raped despite being told so by the child.

The man is accused of allegedly raping the child repeatedly between 2018 and 2021.

The child’s mother is charged with failing to report the alleged abuse to the police.

Both the mother and her boyfriend have pleaded not guilty. The man is out on R2,000 bail, while the mother is out on a warning.

The 14-year-old alleged that the man had raped her on several occasions at his police barracks home where she, her mother and sister also lived.

On another occasion, she was alone at home with the man, who undressed and allegedly raped her.

She then told her aunt, and current guardian, who reported the alleged abuse to the police.

The judgment is expected to be handed down on Thursday.