Rape accused SAPS captain suspended without pay

SAPS captain, Amos Mokwena, accused of raping a 20-year-old trainee earlier this month has been suspended without pay.

The SAPS officer, who has been in service for over three decades, was arrested on the 7th of May – a day after allegedly raping a trainee at his Pretoria West Training Academy office. The rape was allegedly a punishment for her alleged failure to salute him when he passed nearby her a few days prior to the incident.

According to IPID’s Kedibone Masemola, the trainee was threatened by the 59-year-old captain, who remarked that he would fire and blacklist her, rendering her unemployable anywhere in the country if she refused to have sex with him.

She was then allegedly raped by Mokwena who allegedly asked her to take one of her legs out of her trousers to allow penetration.

Masemola says the victim gave into the request, out of fear of repercussion.

She also claims a second victim has come forward, accusing the captain – employed as a firearm trainer – of sexual misconduct while on duty.

Masemola says the second complainant claimed that Mokwena called her into his office, to which she complied. She was then allegedly hugged tightly by the captain that she could feel his erect manhood rubbing against her lady parts.

The complainant managed to escape before things could go any further.

Police Spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe has expressed SAPS’s indignation at Mokwena’s alleged actions, saying his position at the entity has now been revoked till further notice.

“The National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola has strongly condemned the incident, and we have suspended his salary. We have also suspended him. His disciplinary hearing is expected to be heard on the 4th and 5th of June,” says Brigadier Mathe.

Defense attorney Andrew Mokoba argues that his client is innocent and that the allegations all form part of a ploy to dent his dignified image.

He maintains that Mokwena is a suitable candidate for bail and that there is nothing suggesting that he will evade authority once he is granted it.

Mokoba deems it unfair that Mokwena is being held in the slammer while there isn’t any evidence presented before the court to prove the allegations levelled against him, requesting an extemporary order for Mokwena’s release.

He says the state’s argument suggesting Mokwena will use his retirement money next year to skip the country is inconclusive, as he has never travelled outside South African borders and knows no one living outside the country.

He adds that the suspect’s passport has never been stamped and that it also expired in 2008.

The defense attorney also petitioned the court to shift its focus from the second complainant’s allegations against Mokwena, claiming they have no formal charge attached to them.

He has described the second complainant’s allegations against the SAPS captain as lacking logic and defying physics, saying police uniform (which the captain wore during the alleged incident) would not allow for the suspect’s penis to move about while erect.

The state argues that the suspect faces a schedule five case, which makes him ineligible to be granted bail.

It adds that although they are cognisant of Mokwena’s need to support his family and this being his first time facing criminal charges, the court should not over emphasise his rights at the cost of victims, who say they fear for their safety should he be released.

The state also argues that the captain is a veteran employed as a firearm trainer, who upon arrest, was found in possession of ammunition that he was never authorised to have on him.

The state finds it highly aggravating that the captain was trusted with a senior position at the SAPS, which it claims he abused.

The state also finds it unnerving that he has told the investigating officer that he does not have a passport, when he knows that he does, although it has expired.

The state defends the second complainant’s allegations, suggesting if she hadn’t escaped, the captain would have raped her.

Prosecution maintains that Mokwena is a threat to his victims and women in general and therefore should be denied bail.

Presiding Magistrate, Ruth Mfulwane, says judgment on the case will be handed down early next month.

“The matter has been adjourned until the 9th of June for judgment. You will remain in custody until then,” says Magistrate Mfulwane. Written by Odirile Rabolao