A female police officer who was charged with raping her 10-year-old son was reminded in custody after she appeared briefly before the Mdutjana Magistrate Court in Siyabuswa, Mpumalanga on Monday.

COURT APPEARANCE 

The 39-year-old South African Police Service (SAPS) constable who is stationed at the Groblersdal Police station in Limpopo is accused of sexually grooming her son. An explicit video of her and her minor son surfaced last week and she was arrested by the Limpopo police. Mpumalanga's National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Monica Nyuswa confirmed that the constable appeared in court on Monday. It's alleged that the alleged rape took place in 2020 when the boy was only 10 years old at the time. "She is facing charges of rape and sexual grooming of a child. The case has been postponed to 02 February 2023 for purposes of bail application. Due to the seriousness of the charges against the accused, the National Prosecuting Authority will oppose bail," she said.

NATION SHOCKED

The nation was shocked by the video that went viral on social media with many condemning the mother's shameless action. Soon after becoming aware of the video, Limpopo police Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe ordered the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit to conduct an immediate probe into the incident with a view of apprehending the policewoman and removing the child to a place of safety.

CHARGES 

The case of rape of a minor child with additional charges of creating and distributing child pornographic material and sexual grooming of a child was opened on Friday 20 January 2023 and the suspect was arrested on the same day.  Internal Police processes have already kicked in following her arrest and will run parallel with the criminal investigation that has been taken over by the IPID. "The actions of this woman are deplorable and deserve harsh condemnation. Even though the suspect allegedly committed this crime when she was still a Public Service Act employee of the SAPS, she should have known better that such unbecoming behaviour deserved harsh consequences. The South African Police Service does not have the space for such people who tarnish its image," said Lieutenant General Hadebe.

The child has been removed to a place of Safety where he will be given psychological treatment and assistance. The police woman cannot be named to protect the identity of the minor.