Policeman Found Guilty of Sexual Assault Still Employed with South African Police Service

A constable within the South African Police Service (SAPS), based in Western Cape, has been found culpable of sexually assaulting a woman in a police holding cell during November, 2016. Despite the serious nature of this crime, Constable Lizalise Sentane remains an employee of SAPS following an internal disciplinary proceeding where he got acquitted.

Expounding the gravity of the situation, Robbie Raburabu, spokesperson for the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid), detailed the horrific incident. According to him, the victim, a 34-year-old woman who was held on theft charges at the Laingsburg police station, was assaulted by Sentane within the jail cell. The ordeal escalated to a point where the constable pointed a firearm at the victim to execute the shocking act.

A case of rape, resultantly, was opened and Ipid initiated investigations. Despite their suggestions to issue disciplinary actions against the accused, SAPS chose to exonerate Sentane. This decision has left Sentane serving as a police officer, raising concerns about the justice system and the protection of victims within South Africa.

Moreover, the constable has been convicted of threatening with a firearm in addition to the sexual assault charges. The Worcester Regional Court will be passing the sentence during the following week.