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Today we have written to the National Police Commissioner, Lt Gen Khehla Sithole, and Executive Director of IPID, Ms Jennifer Ntlatseng, in respect of the case of a young female police officer that has been the victim of sexual harassment in Lydenberg, Mpumalanga. 

At the press conference held on Monday this week, we announced that ActionSA would be taking up the case of the officer in Mpumalanga who has endured unacceptable treatment. 

The nightmare of this female police officer began after reporting a case of sexual harassment allegedly by her Station Commander. 

Instead of the matter being investigated, this police officer was kidnapped, tied up and gagged, and driven to an unknown house. 

Unable to see and speak, she was assaulted numerous times at the house before being dropped off somewhere in the bush, still bound and gagged, and left to die.

Fortunately, she was eventually able to free herself and made her way to main road where a passing ambulance stopped to assist.

A case of kidnapping was opened, but this police officer has been subjected to the most terrible forms of victimisation, not least of which is the ongoing presence of her sexual harasser. This is in direct contradiction of the SAPS sexual harassment policy and the labour laws of our country. 

What is even more concerning is that a female Brigadier is currently negotiating with the victim in an attempt to get her to drop the case and not pursue the matter.

ActionSA’s writing to the National Police Commissioner and Executive Director of IPID is to afford the SAPS and IPID the opportunity to act on this matter. Should action not be taken we will approach the courts of our country to force both bodies to act. 

It is appalling that with the levels of gender-based violence in South Africa, that this is allowed to happen to a police officer in service to her country. If this is allowed to stand, it sends a message that even someone trained to protect the people of our country can be a victim of such brutality. 

ActionSA will not rest until this matter is resolved and this police officer receives justice for what she has endured. We stand committed to act on this and other cases in defence of the women of our country who are under constant threat of violence from men who do not respect them. 

ActionSA is committed to non-sexism and fighting gender-based violence. We need to build a society based on mutual respect that empowers women. Critical to this is ensuring that men understand the proactive role they must play in ending the exploitation of women.

Issued by ActionSA