Police officers appear in court on rape rap

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) yesterday arrested two police constables for the alleged rape of a 20-year-old woman in Paballelo, Upington.

Ipid spokesperson Moses Dlamini said the two policemen, who are stationed at Nakop port of entry and Kenhardy SA Police Service in Upington in the Northern Cape, were off duty when they allegedly committed the crimes.

On Monday, the victim, from Rosedale in Upington, asked the two constables to give her a lift to town.

She knows both police officers, Dlamini said.

When they returned from town, they went to a house owned by one of the constables. One of the police officers left the house and the one who stayed behind allegedly raped the woman, he added.

“During the rape, the other police officer returned and also allegedly raped the victim.”

After the assaults, the victim told both men she intended to report them to the police.

The house owner begged her not to report it. She refused to change her mind and the constable drove her to Paballelo police station, where she made the report.

The woman was taken to a hospital where she was examined by a doctor, said Dlamini. Both men were arrested.

They were expected to appear in Upington Magistrate’s Court yesterday on charges of rape. – ANA