The conduct of the police officer who is alleged to have raped a Sannieshof woman while on duty is a betrayal of his oath of office and calls for his speedy arrest, said North West Premier Thandi Modise in expressing shock and condemning the despicable and heinous act.

“The heartless and opportunistic criminal who preys on the vulnerable and the weak should have no place within the ranks of the police service and in our society as he has not only compromised the name of the police service but also tainted its image within th broader society that looks up to police officers as protectors,” underscored Premier Modise.

“It is courageous women like the victim in this case who come forward to reclaim their dignity and amplify the call for united action against the scourge of rape in our courts that should inspire others to break their silence and speak out against perpetrators,” added Modise.   

It was reported in the media that a North West policeman raped the 29-year-old woman on Thursday, after tricking her into believing he was going to assist her with the case of her Tanzanian boyfriend, who faced charges of housebreaking.

According to police, the officer took the woman to his grandmother’s house and allegedly raped her three times.

It was also alleged that the officer asked the woman for money to assist her in the case.

Though the police officer is said to be still at large, the matter has also been reported to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate.