A devastating ruling was handed down by the Wynberg Regional Court, convicting a Western Cape police officer of raping an 18-year-old woman in 2018 . Constable Jerome Coetzee, attached to the Lwandle Crime Prevention Unit, was found guilty of the heinous crime.
Incident Details
On July 4, 2018, Coetzee and two fellow officers arrested the victim for alleged drug dealing. After dropping off his colleagues at the police station, Coetzee drove to a deserted area and raped the woman inside the police vehicle. The victim reported the incident and positively identified Coetzee.
Investigation and Sentence
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) investigated the incident, leading to Coetzee’s arrest and conviction. He will be sentenced on November 29, 2024.
Similar Incident in KwaZulu-Natal
In a separate case, a KwaZulu-Natal police officer was released on R5,000 bail after being arrested for allegedly raping a 26-year-old woman at the Pietermaritzburg police station ¹. The victim had gone to obtain an affidavit when the officer made unwanted advances, locked the door, and allegedly raped her.
These disturbing incidents highlight the need for accountability within the police force and the importance of justice for victims of abuse.
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