Top South African police officer charged with raping woman, 18, and grooming 16-year-old girl

A vigil at the University of Cape Town last week for the nine women whose bodies were found across Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg. In a separate case, a police officer has been charged with rape, people trafficking and grooming. Photograph: AFP/ View image in fullscreen A vigil at the University of Cape Town last week for the nine women whose bodies were found across Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg. In a separate case, a police officer has been charged with rape, people trafficking and grooming. Photograph: AFP/ Top South African police officer charged with raping woman, 18, and grooming 16-year-old girl Arrest of Shadrack Sibiya comes as country reels from cases of femicide and alleged police corruption and criminality One of South Africa’s most senior police officers has been charged with raping an 18-year-old woman and grooming a 16-year-old girl, as the country’s police face allegations of corruption and failing to tackle violence against women and girls. Shadrack Sibiya, who was already suspended from his role as deputy national police commissioner over allegations he interfered with political killings investigations, was arrested on Monday. He is facing charges of rape, people trafficking, promoting the sexual grooming of a child and two counts of grooming a child. Sibiya appeared briefly in a Johannesburg court on Tuesday. He was then taken to prison in the capital, Pretoria, before a bail hearing on 29 September, as prosecutors had argued he was an escape risk. South Africa is reeling after the discovery of nine women’s bodies across Ekurhuleni, the municipality east of Johannesburg, in September. Meanwhile, the Madlanga Commission judicial inquiry has been examining allegations of corruption and criminality within the police for the last year. Puleng Dimpane, the acting national police commissioner, said: “Police officers are entrusted with protecting women and children. They cannot themselves be implicated in conduct that undermines this responsibility. As the country continues to confront the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide, there can be no room for anyone within the police service who is alleged to abuse their position or violate the rights of women and children.” Sibiya is accused of raping an 18-year-old woman at a hotel in May in the Sandton business district of Johannesburg. The alleged rape took place “whilst she was passed out due to intoxication administered ”, according to a copy of the charge sheet. The alleged grooming of the 16-year-old girl took place over WhatsApp between 20 July and 3 August, according to the charge sheet.