Gauteng: Cops nabbed after sex trafficking victim ‘raped repeatedly’
Both the brigadier and captain are alleged to have paid a brothel owner for raping a woman who had been kept as a sex slave
The Hawks have arrested two senior members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) on Thursday, 13 May 2021, for their alleged role in a sex trafficking operation in Vereeniging, south of Johannesburg.
According to the elite crime-busting unit, the two suspects, both aged 57, were regulars at an unidentified brothel where a missing woman was being held hostage and used as a sex slave. Instead of abiding by their oath and coming to her rescue, the officers – a brigadier and captain, forced themselves on the woman, raping her on multiple occasions and paying money to the brothel owner.
Hawks arrest 2 senior Gauteng cops on suspicion of human trafficking Updated
Nokukhanya N Mntambo
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Two high-ranking Gauteng police officers were arrested in the Vaal area on Thursday morning on suspicion of human trafficking.
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It s alleged that the brigadier and captain visited an illegal brothel in Vereeniging where a missing woman was held hostage and raped.
The Hawks in Vereeniging followed a tip-off which led them to the arrest. Further investigation revealed that after the victim escaped from the brothel, she reported the matter at the police station and was allegedly forced by one of the suspects to open a staged rape case against a family member in order to divert the investigation focus, said the Gauteng Hawks spokesperson Ndivhuwo Mulamu.
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He was arrested at Aspen Hills home, south of Johannesburg.
The man was arrested together with another police officer, Constable Soja Tshabalala, after threatening to arrest a complainant for not complying with tax regulations and operating an illegal brothel in Randburg.
They allegedly demanded an amount of R60 000 from the complainant in March 2018. This is an ongoing major investigation involving alleged corrupt police officials within our ranks,” says Gauteng Hawks spokesperson Ndivhuwo Mulamu.
The colonel s arrest is additional of that of constable Soja Tshabalala we arrested last month and since remanded in custody for the same extortion and corruption allegations.”
A former municipal official has appeared in court for allegedly selling Lesedi Municipality land without permission.
Tshepo Pule Malekana is alleged to have given power of attorney to lawyers for the sales by using a faked municipal manager s signature.
The Gauteng Hawks said Malekana had handed himself over and that further arrests could follow.
A former municipal official appeared in court for allegedly selling vacant Lesedi Municipality land without permission and with a forged signature.
Gauteng Hawks spokesperson Captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu said Tshepo Pule Malekana is alleged to have given power of attorney to lawyers for the sales by using the municipal manager s forged signature in the scam involving alleged fraud of around R100 million.