Woman ‘raped’ in Pietermaritzburg police station

A 26-year-old woman who went to a local police station last week to obtain an affidavit was taken to a private office and was allegedly raped by a uniformed officer on duty.

The 44-year-old policeman was later arrested and charged with the rape.

The director of KZN Network on Violence Against Women, Cookie Edwards, says the incident was outrageous.

“When your protector becomes your oppressor then who do you turn to?” she asked, pointing out that the incident occurred during National Women’s Month.

Edwards said she hopes the officer will be suspended until a verdict is reached and that the National Prosecuting Authority will expedite the process so that the survivor does not have to ‘wait for years to get justice’.

Too afraid to report what had happened to the suspects’ colleagues, the woman went home and told her family about her ordeal.

They then took her to Mountain Rise Police Station to open a rape charge against the police officer.

Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) spokesperson Phaladi Shuping confirmed that the unit is investigating the charge against the officer.

According to Ipid, the officer allegedly asked her to wait in the office and went to fetch an affidavit. He then came back, completed the affidavit and then allegedly made advances on the woman.

Following the rejection of his advances, Shuping said: “The police officer allegedly locked the door, removed his service pistol, placed it on the table, and raped the complainant.”

Read the full article in The Witness.