‘No one is above the law’: SAPS on top cop’s arrest - IOL

National spokesperson for the South African Police Service (SAPS) Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, addresses members of the press outside the Randburg magistrate's court, were a 59 year old Lieutenant-General is expected to appear before the court on alleged charges of sexually grooming a sixteen-year-old and raping an eighteen-year-old in Sandton.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) says it is disappointed by the arrest of a 59-year-old senior police officer, who holds the rank of lieutenant general, but says the case demonstrates that gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) will not be tolerated within its ranks.

The senior police official is expected to appear in the Randburg Magistrate's Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday, September 22, on charges relating to the alleged grooming of a 16-year-old girl between July and August 2026 and the alleged rape of an 18-year-old woman at a hotel in Sandton in May 2026.

The officer was arrested on Monday night, by members of the Commission’s Recommendations Task Team (CRTT).

National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the officer is facing charges relating to sexual offences.

“The senior officer faces charges relating to the alleged sexual grooming of a 16-year-old girl between July and August 2026, as well as the alleged rape of an 18-year-old woman,” Mathe said.

She said the alleged rape occurred at a hotel in Sandton in May 2026.

Mathe said the matters were reported to the SAPS in recent months, after which the Commission’s Recommendations Task Team began investigating.

“These matters were reported to us as the SAPS in recent months, and the Commission’s Recommendations Task Team started with their investigation, and this is where the investigation has brought us today,” she said.

Mathe said she would not provide further details about the allegations because the matters were still before the courts.

“With regard to the sexual grooming case, it’s in relation to a 16-year-old girl. I won’t go into further detail because these matters must still be ventilated before court,” she said.

“With regard to the rape case, it’s in relation to the 18-year-old young lady who was allegedly raped by this senior officer.”

Mathe said GBVF was a broader societal challenge but stressed that the police service had a particular responsibility to address it within its own ranks.

“GBVF is not merely a matter for one institution or one component of society. It is a societal challenge that requires a whole-of-society response,” she said.

“But as the police service, we recognise that we carry a particular responsibility. We are the institution that communities turn to when they are victims of crime.”

She said the SAPS had a duty to investigate allegations of violence, protect victims and survivors, and hold its own members accountable.

“The fight against GBVF must include accountability within the SAPS, and today is exactly that. This is what accountability looks like, and we have proven that we do not tolerate such behaviour in our ranks,” Mathe said.

Mathe said the SAPS had consistently maintained that no one was above the law, regardless of their position within the organisation.

“Irrespective of rank, position or status, where there is evidence, that particular evidence is brought before a court of law and that individual, irrespective of who they are, is brought to answer to the crimes committed,” she said.

“This is what the public should expect from us. The arrest, even within our ranks, without fear or favour.”

Mathe said the allegations involving a minor were particularly concerning.

“Children are the most vulnerable members of society. They depend on adults to protect them. They depend on institutions like the SAPS to protect them, and they depend on police officers to intervene when their rights have been violated,” she said.

“Any allegation involving sexual exploitation or grooming of a child, [or] the rape of an 18-year-old girl, must therefore be treated with the utmost seriousness.”

She said police officers must never abuse their authority to exploit women or children.

“A child, a young girl, must never be viewed as an easy target. A child’s vulnerability must never be exploited, and a person of authority must never use that authority to gain access to or manipulate a young girl or a young child.”

Mathe said protecting women and children remained a priority for the police service.

“The SAPS commitment to protecting women and children must be firm and absolute. It’s non-negotiable. It is a priority,” she said.

She referred to the president’s declaration of GBVF as a national disaster and said the SAPS had committed resources to strengthening its response.

“We know that there is still more that we need to do as an organisation, obviously in terms of dealing decisively with GBVF, especially in the context of what is happening in the country,” Mathe said.

“We need more arrests. But this type of crime requires prevention, and that is why we are also heightening our awareness.”

Mathe stressed that the police could not address GBVF alone.

“The police cannot do it alone. It requires the whole of society to come together and show that, as a country, we can stand united and fight GBV,” she said.

Mathe acknowledged that the arrest of a senior officer was disappointing, given the responsibilities attached to his position.

“This is a person who is entrusted with serving and protecting the people of this country, particularly women and children. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Everyone is innocent until they are proven guilty before a court of law,” she said.

“But I think our stance is very clear: we will not tolerate GBVF within our ranks.”

She urged police officers to use their positions responsibly.

“We urge police officers out there to use their uniform responsibly. Use their badge responsibly, as well as the rank that they put on their shoulders,” Mathe said.

“We have no room for abuse in the organisation, especially against women and children. There is no room for exploitation, especially of women and children. And that is a crime that we will not tolerate.”

Mathe also defended the track record of the Commission’s Recommendations Task Team, saying its investigations were supported by strong evidence when matters were brought before court.

“When they bring a matter before court, they’ve got overwhelming evidence against you,” she said.

She said the SAPS would stand in solidarity with the alleged victims while intensifying its efforts to combat GBVF.

“We will be here in solidarity with the young girls and to assure the nation - not only these two young girls - that we are here as the South African Police Service,” Mathe said.

“We are intensifying our efforts against gender-based violence and femicide.”

Mathe said the SAPS had arrested more than 30,000 suspects for GBVF-related crimes in the past 12 months.

She also said that, between April and June, 648 GBVF perpetrators were convicted and sentenced to prison, including 98 who received life sentences.