Cape police officer arrested by Ipid for rape in office

A POLICE training instructor has been arrested by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) on a charge of rape.

It is alleged that the instructor raped a female police trainee, Ipid spokesperson, Phaladi Shuping, said. The incident took place on March 31.

“It is alleged that on March 31, 2024, a police instructor at a Philippi Police Training Academy in the Western Cape called a female police trainee to his office. She went to the office after she had made several excuses in the past for not going there.

“It is alleged that the instructor locked the door once the complainant was inside, and raped her. She was allowed to leave after the alleged rape, but she did not report the incident immediately,” Shuping said.

The police trainee reported the rape a few days after the incident. A case was reported and referred to Ipid for investigation.

The police training instructor was arrested on April 21.

“Ipid arrested the instructor on Sunday, April 21, on a charge of rape. He appeared in the Wynberg Magistrates Court on Monday, April 22, and the case was postponed to May 2, for a formal bail application,” Shuping said.

Earlier this month, a Western Cape police captain was jailed for 20 years for raping a 14-year-old girl.

Captain Andre Bekkies, who was attached to the SAPS Protection and Security Services, was found guilty of rape and three counts of sexual assault in the Parow Magistrate’s Court.

Shuping said a case of rape and sexual assault was reported to Ipid following allegations that Bekkies assaulted a 14-year-old girl on December 13, 2019 at around 8pm.