Police Minister denounces shocking rape case involving Inkosi in KwaZulu-Natal
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu said they are standing in solidarity with the victim and her family.
Image: GCIS
The Police Ministry has expressed its shock and disdain after an 18-year-old was allegedly raped in KwaZulu-Natal.
The rape took place on May 4, and the accused in the matter is a 54-year-old Inkosi of the KwaBhidla area.
An Inkosi is a chief or chieftain.
According to police, the suspect gave the young woman a lift from the eGqumeni area, but he allegedly refused to drop her off, instead, he drove her to a remote and isolated bush area where he allegedly raped her.
The suspect made a brief appearance in the Hlanganani Magistrate's Court on Friday, May 9.
National Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu condemned the rape.
'This vile act, allegedly committed by someone who holds a position of leadership and authority—is a betrayal of the moral, ethical, and societal responsibilities bestowed upon traditional leaders; it flies in the face of the values we seek to uphold in a just, safe, and respectful society,' Mchunu said.
He said it remains unclear whether the Inkosi premeditated this and executed his plan using his vehicle.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mail & Guardian
11 hours ago
- Mail & Guardian
National Register for Sex Offenders still in legislative process, justice department says
The National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO) is still in a 'legislative review process' after its release was halted in February to address the confidentiality and disclosure clauses that prevent public access, the ministry of justice and constitutional development said The National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO) is still in a 'legislative review process' after its release was halted in February to address the confidentiality and disclosure clauses that prevent public access, the ministry of justice and constitutional development said. Ministry spokesperson Terrence Manase noted that the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act criminalises the disclosure of information on the register, with penalties including fines or imprisonment. 'In light of these limitations, the ministry has initiated a legislative review process to address the confidentiality and disclosure clauses that currently prevent public access,' said Manase. This comes after Police Minister Senzo Mchunu Following Mchunu's revelation, Bosa said it had written to the justice department requesting access to the sex offenders register, but this was denied. 'Government is hellbent on keeping [the register] under wraps,' Bosa spokesperson Roger Solomons said. 'This register should be a tool for prevention, not a secretive ledger buried in bureaucracy.' As of early 2025, the register contained more than 32 000 names, with more than 10 000 additional cases pending court outcomes. Public access remains restricted because of confidentiality clauses in the The register was established in 2007 to track people convicted of sexual offences, particularly against vulnerable groups such as children and persons with mental disabilities. It lists the name and personal details of the offender; their contact details; their ID, passport or license number; the type of sexual offence the offender was convicted of and against whom; the court where the trial took place; and the case number. An email sent to Bosa by the registrar of the National Register for Sex Offenders committee, Ntombizodwa Matjila, said the party cannot access the register because of the confidentiality and disclosure of information in 'Due to the legislative imperatives mentioned above, the register or any information contained in the NRSO cannot be disclosed under any circumstances,' Matjila wrote in the email, a copy of which the Mail & Guardian has seen. The registry is only accessible to employers who work with children or mentally disabled people, as well as government departments and institutions responsible for child protection. Employers are legally required to screen potential employees against the register before hiring them into such jobs. Constitutional and data privacy experts say making the register public raises serious legal concerns. They note that it could infringe on rights to privacy and dignity under sections 14 and 10 of the Constitution, and may violate the Protection of Personal Information Act (Popia), which safeguards sensitive data. 'There are concerns regarding the potential impact on the families of perpetrators, especially their children, who may face stigma and backlash for crimes they did not commit. In addition, the NRSO cannot be considered sufficient as a standalone measure,' said Brigitta Mangale, a director in the pro bono and human rights practice at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr. Legal experts at the Centre for Applied Legal Studies warned of risks such as defamation, vigilantism and wrongful listings, particularly without proper oversight or appeal mechanisms. The NGO People Opposing 'Dealing with paperwork from government organisations is a very tedious process, which is usual, but when you have urgent cases like information relating to the registry, it does become difficult to wait,' said the organisation's executive director, Fatima Shaikh. With nearly 20 000 South Africans backing Bosa's petition, the party is now considering a legislative amendment to make the register publicly accessible. 'This is about transparency, safety and accountability,' said Solomons. 'We will not accept more delays in protecting South Africans — especially our children — from sexual predators.' Manase said a definitive timeline cannot yet be provided but the justice department 'remains committed to enabling public access to the register in a legally compliant manner'. 'Ultimately, the goal is to enhance the protection of vulnerable members of our society while ensuring transparency within the bounds of the law.'
The Citizen
19 hours ago
- The Citizen
Brooklyn suffers nation's most vehicle thefts
Brooklyn Police Station continues to lead the country in motor vehicle and motorcycle theft, even as national statistics show an overall decline in these crimes. According to the latest quarterly crime stats released by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on May 23, the station remains among the top 30 nationally for serious crimes and firmly at number one for reported vehicle theft. Fourth quarter (January to March) data of the 2024/25 financial year reveals that Brooklyn remains under severe pressure, despite certain improvements in other crime categories. Ward councillor Shaun Wilkinson acknowledged the area's unique challenges, saying that high student activity and nightlife are contributing factors. 'There are many issues in Brooklyn,' he said. 'Students are often targeted. They might be looking for drugs and end up being robbed.' He said, however, the robberies get reported and not the drug use. Wilkinson also explained that many crimes reported in Brooklyn actually take place in neighbouring areas like Sunnyside but are reported in Brooklyn for convenience or for insurance purposes. 'Students and others often park in unsafe areas like Mandela Boulevard, making themselves vulnerable to smash-and-grabs.' The station serves 28 suburbs, including Hatfield, Waterkloof, Menlo Park, Hazelwood, and Lynnwood North. Its jurisdiction includes student residences, bars, clubs, universities, shopping centres and diplomatic offices – factors that contribute to its high crime load. Among Pretoria east's six police stations, Brooklyn remains the most affected by crime, currently ranking: – 5th nationally for property-related crimes – 6th for commercial crimes – 8th for common robbery – 9th for serious crimes overall – 10th for theft not otherwise specified – 20th for burglaries at non-residential premises – 23rd for community-reported crimes Despite these numbers, Brooklyn has seen progress in other areas. The latest quarter showed a 13-case decline in burglaries at non-residential premises and no reported cases of attempted sexual offences, murder, arson, stock theft or cash-in-transit heists. Theft from motor vehicles dropped by 21%, and robbery with aggravating circumstances decreased by 40.7%. Tshwane's district commissioner, Major-General Samuel Thine, said Brooklyn's challenges stem from its geography and density. 'The precinct includes malls, universities, diplomatic sites, and nightlife venues, making it a high-risk area for property crime and robbery,' he explained. He acknowledged Brooklyn's history of topping crime stats but noted a 6.2% drop in community-reported property and contact crimes. 'We now rank 25th nationally and 7th in Gauteng,' said Thine. To curb crime, Thine said the station is partnering with private security firms, Crime Intelligence, the SAPS Vehicle Theft Unit, and local law enforcement in various operations. He added that the operations include high-density patrols, Operation Shanela, and FLASH initiatives targeting nightlife venues. 'The reactivation of the Community Policing Forum (CPF) and business forums is also aimed at improving co-operation between the police and residents.' Allegations of corruption have also surfaced against the Brooklyn police station commander. However, Thine confirmed that no formal cases have been opened and no investigations are currently underway. 'To date, nothing has been reported and no official cases have been registered for investigation,' he said. Thine urged members of the public to come forward with credible information and to make use of official reporting channels. He assured that all reports would be treated with strict confidentiality. 'Community support is critical. Residents must report crime and provide information, especially about suspicious or corrupt activity,' he said. Reports can be submitted anonymously through 0800 10111 or the MySAPS app. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
eNCA
20 hours ago
- eNCA
11 accused of defrauding Sassa of R260-million back in court
JOHANNESBURG - Eleven suspects linked to the R260 million Sassa fraud case, are back in the Lenasia Magistrate's Court, for their bail application. The group faces over a thousand charges of fraud, related to a multi-million rand card scheme. Seven of the suspects are employed by SASSA, and are accused of creating fake profiles and committing identity fraud. The case was postponed to allow the court to consider additional evidence.
