Police Minister Speaks Out After Lieutenant General Arrested on Sex Charges
- Acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia spoke out after a 59-year-old Lieutenant General was arrested on serious sexual offence charges
- The senior SAPS officer faces allegations of grooming a 16-year-old girl and raping an 18-year-old woman
- The arrest was carried out by the Commissions Recommendations Task Team, with a court appearance expected in Randburg
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SOUTH AFRICA — Acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia has issued a strong condemnation following the arrest of a senior South African Police Service officer on charges of sexual grooming and rape.
The accused, a 59-year-old Lieutenant General, was taken into custody by members of the Commissions Recommendations Task Team (CRTT). He faces allegations of sexually grooming a 16-year-old girl and raping an 18-year-old woman. The officer was expected to appear before the Randburg Magistrates' Court the day following his arrest.
Cachalia speaks out on senior officer's arrest
While acknowledging that the accused is entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence, Cachalia was unambiguous in his response to the allegations. In a statement, he said:
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"We strongly condemn the alleged conduct that has resulted in the arrest of a senior member of the South African Police Service."
He further said that a police officer, and particularly a senior police officer, is entrusted with enormous responsibility to protect members of the public, uphold the law and safeguard the rights and dignity of women and children.
"Where allegations of sexual offences are made against a member of the Service, they must be investigated without fear or favour, irrespective of the rank or position of the individual concerned," he said
GBVF crisis adds weight to condemnation
Cachalia linked the arrest to South Africa's broader crisis of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), referencing the recent discovery of the bodies of nine women in Ekurhuleni as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by women across the country.
"These allegations are particularly troubling at a time when our country is confronting the devastating scourge of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide," he said.
He added that SAPS cannot credibly lead the fight against gender-based violence while turning a blind eye to allegations of such conduct within its own ranks.
The Acting Minister emphasised that the arrest of any police official facing credible criminal allegations must be met with what he described as "decisive and lawful action," adding that the SAPS's commitment to combating GBVF must apply equally within the police service itself.
Cachalia defends acting police commissioner
Briefly News also reported that Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia defended Acting Commissioner Major General Puleng Dimpane, saying that she was not involved in the controversial multi-million-rand tender awarded to Vusimusi "Cat" Matlala's Medicare24 Tshwane. Cachalia responded as part of the peace and security cluster, directly pushing back against concerns raised by civic organisations that the Acting National Commissioner may have been complicit in the irregular contract, given that she headed the SAPS finance division when the initial payments were processed.
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Source: Briefly News
