Court hears SAPS officer allegedly raped trainee for not saluting him

May 26, 2025 195 2

The 59-year-old police captain accused of raping a 20-year-old trainee inside his office within the Pretoria West SAPS Training Academy will return to court on Wednesday.

On Friday the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court heard startling testimony from the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).

The police watchdog, IPID told the court that the police captain allegedly raped the trainee in his office for not saluting him.

Amos Mokwena, who has served in the SAPS for almost three decades, was detained while on duty on the 7th of May after the trainee laid a complaint.

Senior Investigating Officer at IPID, Kedibone Masemola says during her probe with the complainant, who was stationed at the Pretoria West SAPS platoon at the time of the incident, she learnt that the accused summoned the complainant to his office.

Masemola says the victim told her that she was told that it is breach of protocol for her to pass a high ranking official without saluting them, and that her actions call grounds for her sacking and that she could also get blacklisted, rendering her forever unemployable anywhere in the country.

The victim further alleged that while in his locked office, the captain, who is also a firearm trainer at the academy, forced her to sleep with him if she wanted to keep her employment with the organisation.

The court also heard how Mokwena sexually molested another trainee who recently came forward.

Following the discovery of the first complainant’s case, the second complainant appeared to have had the courage to speak out against him to the police.

The court heard about the events in the second complainant’s case from the IPID’s Senior Investigating Officer, Masemola.

“The complainant said to me that when she went to the accused’s office after he ordered her to come there, he locked the door. He then went to her to hug her tight so that she was able to feel his erect manhood against her private part even though they were both dressed,” unravels Masemola.

According to Masemola, this incident occurred on March 17th at the captain’s office, where the victim was able to escape before things could go any further.

The Investigating officer believes that the suspect should not be granted bail because he might be able to interfere with witnesses, who say they won’t feel safe if he gets bail.

She adds that the accused was also found in possession of more than accounted for ammunition, which the police are currently investigating as he was not allowed to have that many rounds on him.

The accused pleads not guilty to all of the allegations, claiming they are unreasonable and intended to tarnish his dignity.

Meanwhile the defence says it is in the best interests of the judicial system to release him on bail, citing the necessity to provide for his family.

Mokwena’s lawyer, Andrew Makoba told the court that his client is willing to pay R1500 to be released on bail, citing that he is a breadwinner and his wife is unemployed.

Makoba adds that his client won’t be a danger due to his clean criminal record during his 31 year tenure at the SAPS.

Defense also pulled the health card in court today, saying the accused suffers from Bronchitis, Sinusitis and muscle spasms and therefore needs access to medication to safeguard his health.

Makhoba also alleges that the accused’s safety is in danger while in custody, as he has been allegedly receiving threats while behind bars.

Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) , which was in court in support of the victims, is pressing law enforcement to ensure trainee safety at its organisation.

The organisation lamabasts the suspects alleged actions, stating that the act, particularly in a professional place, is appalling.

Solly Mathe, deputy provincial chairman of POPCRU, is urging the SAPS to provide enough help for the victim through the entity’s Employee Health and Wellness Programme (EHWP), saying that the victims need psychosocial counselling and trauma treatment.

He proposes that the general commissioner of training at the Pretoria West SAPS Training Academy guarantee that professionalism is practiced at all times.

“Lieutenant General Zulu must ensure that training centres are a safe place. He must ensure that professionalism is practiced and that ethics are maintained because we are concerned that these are young law enforcers who must be free while they are there. They need to come out of the academy completely able to execute their duties without feeling intimidated,” says Mathe.

Written by Odirile Rabalao

Written by: Lindiwe Mpanza

Rate it