Portfolio Committee on Community Safety in the Gauteng Legislature in South Africa (SA) has expressed shock and outrage following revelations that nearly 100 police officials across the country have been accused of sexual violence or rape.
The figures, drawn from the Independent Police Investigative Directorate’s 2024/25 Annual Report, were disclosed during a Portfolio Committee stakeholder engagement session on Friday. The meeting assessed the SA Police Service’s (SAPS) compliance with the Domestic Violence Act of 1998.
Committee Chairperson Bandile Masuku said it was deeply concerning that police officers, who are constitutionally mandated to protect communities, are themselves implicated in acts of sexual violence.
The Committee described the alleged conduct as a serious betrayal of public trust, warning that it fundamentally undermines confidence in law enforcement institutions.
It unequivocally condemned the allegations, stressing that members of SAPS are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and respect for human rights.
The Committee added that any involvement in sexual violence is wholly incompatible with the duties and responsibilities of policing and must be met with swift, decisive and visible consequences.
–ChannelAfrica–
