Times Of Swaziland: COP ACCUSED OF RAPING COLLEAGUE’S GIRLFRIEND

COP ACCUSED OF RAPING COLLEAGUE’S GIRLFRIEND
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Melisa Msweli and Thokozani Mazibuko on 16/09/2023 08:40:00


NHLANGANO – A shocking scenario has befallen a female at Hlatikhulu Police
Station. It has been alleged that a police officer raped his house mate’s
girlfriend.
It is alleged that the two police officers are room-mates as they are sharing a
two-bedroom house at the police camp located in the vicinity of the Hlatikhulu
town in the Shiselweni Region.  According to impeccable sources, the officer had
left his girlfriend at the house and was on duty at the time the alleged rape
took place.  Sources disclosed to Eswatini News that the officer in question
left his girlfriend without suspecting that anything sinister might happen, as
the two were long time room-mates.
Sources claim that the girlfriend went out of the room with the intention to use
the bathroom, but while on her way, the officer allegedly pulled her into his
room before sexually forcing himself on her.  It is further alleged that the
girlfriend was wearing nothing but a towel which was wrapped around her body
when this rape incident allegedly happened.
It is common knowledge that the members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service
(REPS) share two-bedroom houses in the staff quarters at the numerous stations
countrywide. However, it is only after an officer has been promoted to the
position of a sergeant that he or she can be allocated a house, which is not
open for sharing. Further, the sources disclosed that after allegedly raping his
colleagues’ girlfriend, the room-mate is alleged to have tried to persuade her
not to report the incident to her boyfriend.
Sensing that her life could be in danger at the hands of the officer, the woman
is alleged to have agreed that she was not going to report the matter to her
boyfriend. However, when the boyfriend came from duty, she went ahead and
informed him on what had allegedly befallen her at the hands of the room-mate.
The officer is said to have proceeded to the station commander to report the
incident.
The station commander is said to have tried to engage the two officers, but this
was apparently made difficult by the fact that the accused continued to deny the
allegations, and insisted that the alleged survivor concerted to the alleged
sexual act. As the station officer was engaging the two police officers, it is
said that the accused officer claimed that the woman had agreed to the act after
offering her money.  However, it could not be established as to how much money
the officer promised the woman.
It was further alleged that the officer’s girlfriend demanded that a case of
rape be opened against his colleague, something which the station commander is
said to have agreed. However, he allegedly advised that such should be done
after blood tests had been undertaken. It is said that the two police officers
were then taken to the Nhlangano Magistrates Court, where the Magistrate issued
an order that swabs be taken at the Health Centre to establish if indeed the act
of sexual intercourse happened. It is normal procedure that when rape cases are
reported, blood samples are done before charging an accused.
The accused could be charged under the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act
of 2018. The SODV Act deals with sexual offences and domestic violence issues in
a non-discriminatory manner by eliminating gender inequalities and providing
protection across the board, but more so for vulnerable persons such as women,
children and persons with disabilities.