Cape Town — The chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron, has welcomed the dismissal of a senior South African Police Services (SAPS) instructor from a training academy.
He said the dismissal was a good start to get rid of SAPS members who have exposed themselves to misconduct and crime. The dismissal comes after a police training instructor was accused of raping a female trainee from the Philippi Training Academy in Cape Town this week, IOL reported.
The instructor, a 50-year-old man, was released from his position on warning. According to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), the incident took place in March.
“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 and she went to the office after she had several excuses in the past for not going to his office,” IPID spokesperson, Phaladi Shuping, said.
“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,” he added.
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In response to the dismissal, Cameron took to X and applauded the decision to dismiss the employer and said it showed that SAPS was willing to act against criminals within its organisations.
Cameron had followed up on the incident with the new Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu, who said that the Division HRD and SAPS had dealt with the matter and the officer was dismissed.
“The dismissal of the disgraced instructor is a strong indication of the drive to root out criminals within the SAPS. It is also a strong message that gender-based violence will not be tolerated within the SAPS and in the country in general,” Cameron said.
The officer was arrested but is currently out on bail and Cameron highlighted the need for IPID to conclude the investigation to ensure effective prosecution of the matter.
Regarding allegations of criminality and mismanagement at the academy, Cameron said he was assured by Mchunu that the allegations are being investigated and feedback will be provided in due course.
Some good news:
Last week I followed up on behalf of the Portfolio Committee on Police on the progress of the investigation/proceedings after the alleged rape of a female trainee by a Senior Instructor at the @SAPoliceService Philippi training academy.
The Minister of Police,…
— Ian Cameron (@IanCameron23) July 19, 2024
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Picture: X/@SAPoliceService
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
