The IFP in KwaZulu-Natal wants the cop accused of raping a 24-year-old woman at a police station to be suspended.
The party made this known in a statement on Friday saying that it heard that the accused police officer reported for duty at the KwaMakhutha police station on the KZN south coast.
IFP spokesperson Blessed Gwala said “what makes matters worse is that we were also reliably informed that the accused is alleged to have had similar accusations before, but these matters were intentionally kept under wraps”.
“The IFP will not tolerate any criminal alignment of police officers with crime, especially heinous crimes like GBV.”
He called on the community safety and liaison MEC Bheki Ntuli to intervene into this matter by making sure the officer is suspended pending the investigation, and that the rape victim gets protected.
“Rotten law enforcement officers are the reason that rape victims are not reporting rape and other GBV cases to the Saps.”
“It is unacceptable that there are criminals hiding behind blue uniforms, who cannot be trusted,” he said.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) on Wednesday confirmed that it was investigating the case against the officer.
According to Ipid spokesperson Ndileka Cola, the rape happened on September 25 while the woman was in police custody.
“It is alleged the victim was taken by the police officer from one of the shops to KwaMakhutha Saps, where the victim was allegedly raped in one of the offices inside the police station.”
She disclosed that the directorate is investigating the case and “working hard to ensure justice for the victim.”
