Durban -
A man who was raped in a police cell six years ago, when he was 17, is to get R200 000 from the MEC for safety and security in general damages, according to a settlement reached in the Pietermaritzburg High Court.
He was initially seeking R920 000 and the matter proceeded to trial this week for the court to determine the final amount. However, after a number of witnesses were called, the parties agreed to settle.
The minister also agreed to pay the legal costs in the case. The money has to be paid before December 24.
The man was arrested with two others on suspicion of theft in October 2007 and detained at the Pongola police station, where he was raped by a 43-year-old cellmate.
The MEC was sued because the police failed to take steps to ensure the man’s safety or to ensure that he was not detained with adults.
The police also failed to monitor the condition of the detainees.
A clinical psychologist, Zanele Khumalo, testified about how the rape had affected the man.
At the time, he was in Grade 9, but he dropped out of school, fearing that his co-accused in the theft, who attended the same school as he did, would tell about the rape.
The Mercury