Shocking IPID Report Reveals Scores of SAPS Members Accused of Rape and Sexual Violence
Johannesburg – A disturbing report by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) has revealed that at least 97 members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) face accusations of rape or sexual violence. The incidents, detailed in Ipid's annual report for the 2024/2025 financial year, paint a grim picture of how individuals entrusted with protecting the public can become perpetrators of serious gender-based violence.
The report, formally signed off on 23 September 2025 by acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia, details 95 cases involving allegations of rape by police officers, including two instances of rape occurring while the victims were in police custody. An additional 17 cases of sexual assault were also recorded during the same period.
In his foreword to the report, Cachalia acknowledged the gravity of the situation, stating that "public confidence in law enforcement has been eroded by acts of misconduct within the police services."
The Ipid statistics highlight that these incidents are not isolated to a single region but are spread across the country, with significant provincial disparities. Gauteng recorded the highest number of incidents with 27, followed by Eastern Cape (16), Western Cape (15), and KwaZulu-Natal (10). The Northern Cape recorded eight cases, Mpumalanga and Limpopo six each, North West four, and the Free State three.
While the national total reflects a 14% decrease from the 110 reported rape cases in 2023/2024 to 95 in 2024/2025, this decline masks alarming provincial spikes. Gauteng saw a 35% increase, incidents reported in Limpopo doubled, and Mpumalanga recorded a staggering 200% rise, jumping from two to six cases in a single year. Conversely, KwaZulu-Natal recorded a 62% decrease, the Northern Cape fell by 43%, and the Western Cape by 21%. The report further indicates that 51 incidents (54%) involved officers who were on duty, while 44 cases (46%) occurred off duty.
The revelations have sparked outrage and condemnation from civil society organisations. Fatima Shaik, executive director of People Opposing Women Abuse, stated that the report triggered "a profound sense of betrayal at the state’s failure to protect women." She emphasised that when police officers are implicated in sexual violence, it signifies a systemic failure rather than isolated incidents of wrongdoing. "When police officers entrusted with protecting women are implicated in rape and sexual violence, this is not an isolated scandal. It is evidence of a state that has failed to confront violence within its own institutions," Shaik said.
Siyabulela Jentile, an activist linked to pressure group #NotInmynameinternational, expressed his shock, emphasising that the figures represent real human beings violated by those who should be protecting them. "The figure of 97 cases must never be understood as a statistic alone," he said. "Each number represents a violated human being – a mother, a sister, a daughter, a child whose dignity was stripped away by those entrusted with power."
Jentile was particularly scathing about incidents of rape in police custody. "Abuse in police custody is among the gravest human rights violations a democratic state can commit. In custody, victims are completely powerless and entirely under state control. Any abuse in such a space is not only criminal; it is an indictment of the state itself. It represents a total breakdown of duty, ethics and humanity."
He called for decisive action, including immediate suspensions, fast-tracked and transparent investigations, and real consequences for those found guilty. "What is required now is decisive action, not statements. This includes immediate suspension, fast-tracked and transparent investigations, and real consequences for those found guilty," Jentile stated. "Accountability must be visible, consistent and uncompromising; otherwise, we are complicit in the cycle of violence."
Shaik warned that unresolved cases fuel impunity, noting that thousands of Ipid matters remain under investigation nationally. "When cases remain unresolved, officers remain in uniform. When officers remain in uniform, impunity becomes policy," she said. She added that allegations against police officers shatter survivors’ trust in the justice system, often silencing victims before they report abuse. "Many choose silence not because violence has stopped, but because hope has stopped," she said.
Ipid spokesperson Phaladi Shuping told Sunday World that dozens of cases where police officers are accused of rape and sexual offences are moving through different stages of the criminal justice system. "The cases happened at different places. Some of the complainants are partners, some are complainants in other cases, and some are just ordinary members of the community," Shuping said, highlighting the complexity of the cases under scrutiny.
Richard Mamabolo, spokesperson for police union Popcru, stated that while the union condemns any acts of sexual violence, the cases cited in the Ipid report remain allegations under investigation and must not be confused with findings of guilt. "We therefore approach the report with a dual responsibility: to condemn sexual violence without reservation, while also upholding the constitutional principle of the presumption of innocence until proven guilty," he said.
The Ipid report serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing the SAPS in addressing misconduct within its ranks and rebuilding public trust. The coming months will be crucial in determining whether the necessary steps are taken to ensure accountability and prevent future incidents of this nature.
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