IPID Arrests 18-Year-Old Woman for False Rape Charge Against Police Constable, South Africans Fume
- The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) arrested an 18-year-old Kuruman woman on 25 September 2026
- The woman appeared before the Kuruman Magistrate Court after her arrest for falsely accusing a police officer of rape
- South Africans weighed in on the charges against the woman, sharing frustration and calling for a harsh punishment to be handed down
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Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.
NORTHERN CAPE — The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) arrested an 18-year-old woman from Kuruman on 25 September 2026 on a charge of perjury.
The woman was arrested after she allegedly filed a false rape complaint against a constable attached to the South African Police Service's Vehicle Investigation Unit in Kimberley. The case stems from an alleged rape incident at a Kuruman guest house on 23 September 2026. The off-duty 24-year-old constable was arrested the following day and faced a charge of rape.
However, on the morning of his scheduled court appearance on 25 September, the woman disclosed to an IPID investigator that she had fabricated the complaint. According to IPID, she admitted that the two had engaged in consensual sex and that she opened the case because the officer had not paid her an agreed amount of R400 afterwards.
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Rape charge withdrawn and perjury case opened
Following the woman's disclosure, the rape charge against the constable was withdrawn in court. IPID simultaneously opened a case of perjury against the woman for allegedly lying under oath and misusing state resources.
She appeared before the Kuruman Magistrate Court on the same day and was released on warning. Her case was remanded to 16 October 2026 to allow her time to secure legal aid.
IPID has used the arrest to issue a public statement cautioning communities against filing false reports. The directorate stated that such conduct undermines the integrity of the justice system and diverts investigative resources away from genuine cases.
How did South Africans react?
The arrest drew significant reaction on social media.
@Leelikechinese wrote:
"They should give her the sentence that was supposed to be given to him."
@Connie_Matabz said:
"They need to be sentenced for a false rape charge. This is getting out of hand."
@VivoMamaAct added:
"All the men who were accused wrongly should also open cases. Destroying someone's reputation is a no no."
@JerryMaremo commented:
"The same punishment for rape should apply to false accusers."
@BabonkeL said:
"Lock her up and throw away the key."
@mpe40 raised a different concern:
"Why arrest someone based on hearsay and not on concrete evidence, especially on a rape issue?"
Other stories about women arrested for perjury
- A 28-year-old woman from Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal, was arrested after she falsely claimed that she was raped by two brothers.
- A Durban woman was arrested by the police after she was caught lying about being raped by her ex-boyfriend.
- A Durban woman was nabbed for faking her own kidnapping and demanding ransom from her husband.
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Source: Briefly News
