Recruitment of cops needs a review

Action Society opposes the bail application of the police officer who allegedly raped a 29-year-old man from Gugulethu on December 2.

The 31-year-old officer appeared at the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, after being arrested on Sunday, December 5 on charges of rape assault and kidnapping. The case is postponed until the 23rd of December 2021 for a bail hearing.

Action Society is shocked by the behaviour of the officer, in particular at a time when the country grieves against violence and abuse in our communities.

The accused officer apprehended the 29-year-old man on suspicion of shoplifting, at the Nyanga Junction, last Thursday.

The officer allegedly handcuffed the man to a police van, drove him to a gravel road near the Cape Town International Airport, forced him to watch pornography and assaulted him.

This case comes as we mark 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children.

In September, Minister of Police Bheki Cele revealed that over 10 000 police officers were being investigated for murder, rape and assault since 2012. The officers are currently facing disciplinary hearings.

Action Society has on countless occasions called for the review of our men and women in blue. All of this has fallen on deaf ears. The atrocities committed by police officers is a clear indication that the recruitment process needs to be re-evaluated. Prospective police officers must go through rigorous background checks and psychological evaluation.