KEY POINTS
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A 59-year-old police academy captain faces rape and sexual assault charges involving two trainees and has been suspended without pay, with his disciplinary hearing set for early June.
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The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is probing additional potential victims after a second trainee came forward, revealing alleged misconduct dating back to March 2025.
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The case has ignited demands for reform within police training academies, highlighting vulnerabilities in trainee supervision and SAPS’s pledge to oppose bail while providing victim support.
A senior police captain at the Tshwane Police Training Academy has been suspended without pay following accusations of rape and sexual assault by two female trainees, intensifying scrutiny over the safety of South Africa’s law enforcement training institutions.
The 59-year-old captain, who appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Thursday for his bail hearing, faces multiple charges stemming from two separate incidents allegedly committed within the academy’s premises.
The first alleged attack by the captain occurred on 6 May, when he reportedly lured a 20-year-old trainee into his office under the pretext of disciplinary action and raped her. A day after the arrest of the captain, another trainee came forward, alleging that she too had been sexually assaulted by the same instructor in March.
“Our academies are meant to be safe havens,” said SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, “They are not places where young people in this country should be violated.”
According to Mathe, the police acted swiftly following the initial report. “We managed to arrest the captain within 24 hours. He has been in custody since 7 May, and the state is opposing his bail application,” she added. The captain has now been formally suspended from duty and will face a disciplinary hearing on 4 and 5 June.
Wider investigations and institutional accountability
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has expanded its investigation into other possible incidents at the academy, as fears mount that there may be more victims who have not yet come forward.
“We are aware of a second complainant, and our investigation is ongoing. We are encouraging trainees to speak out and ensuring that psychological support is available,” said Mathe.
SAPS has confirmed that the 20-year-old trainee is currently receiving trauma counseling and emotional care through the force’s Employee Health and Wellness Unit. Social workers and psychologists have been deployed to assist.
In addition to the criminal proceedings, the officer’s misconduct is now under internal review. His suspension without pay is viewed as a significant step by SAPS in reinforcing its zero-tolerance stance on gender-based violence within its ranks.
The Citizen reports that the incident adds to a growing number of sexual misconduct cases involving law enforcement officers, prompting widespread public concern about abuse of power in the police force. Last year, a police sergeant was sentenced to 20 years for raping a woman inside a police station.
Advocates and human rights organizations have called for tighter vetting, mandatory training on workplace harassment, and the establishment of independent reporting systems within law enforcement institutions.
As the disciplinary hearing nears, both IPID and SAPS are expected to release further updates. For now, police authorities urge any other potential victims or witnesses to come forward.
