Rape accused cop still on the beat
Ipid wants to build strong case against officer
A forensic officer who was accused of molesting two school children at AB Xuma Primary School in Soweto this month is yet to be arrested.
This is according to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid).
Ipid told Sowetan yesterday investigators were building a strong docket against the offi- cer, two weeks after a case was opened against him by the pupils’ parents at the Orlando East police station.
“The case is still being investigated [and] there is no arrest. Investigations take time but once a person is charged, then he or she will be brought to court,” Ipid spokesman Moses Dlamini said.
He said if their investigations confirmed the allegations, they would proceed to arrest and charge the affected forensic officer.
The officer was tasked with investigating allegations that 87 girls were sexually abused by a school patroller last year. The case is before court.
However, the investigator allegedly sexually molested two of the victims aged seven and eight.
As pupils made their way out of the school yesterday, three Ipid officers were seated inside the administrative office, questioning affected parents – including the principal Sam Tsotetsi and a female educator – for over three hours.
The officers – two men and a woman – declined to speak to Sowetan and batted away questions put to them.
A parent whose daughter was allegedly molested by the patroller and was interviewed by the investigators yesterday said she had not been briefed about the developments of the case.
“Honestly speaking, I don’t know what is going on.
“Our children were [only] questioned on the day of the incident but I have not heard anything from the horse’s mouth.
“All I know is that every month, they [forensic officers] come to the school to ask the pupils about the progress of the counselling sessions,” said the parent who wanted to remain anonymous for fear of victimisation.
Another parent, Thembela Khumalo, said she had also been left in the dark about developments of the case and refused to give any more information.
Sowetan has established that the more than 80 kids were in groups of eight and attending
‘‘ Our children were only questioned on the day of the incident
counselling sessions at Teddy Bear Clinic in Protea, Soweto.
Gauteng department of education spokesman Steve Mabona said they were aware that Ipid was investigating.
However, he referred further questions to the police and prosecuting team, saying they would be better placed to confirm the number of pupils involved “because they are in charge of the investigation, which includes taking of statements”.