CAPE TOWN - Disgraced former Mitchells Plain police sergeant, David Steenkamp who preyed on detained inmates is expected to know his fate next week.
His sentencing on Tuesday was delayed due to outstanding reports.
He had been found guilty on one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault.
He was expected to be sentenced at the Mitchells Plain Regional Court on Tuesday but National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila said the sentencing did not go ahead as expected due to the correctional officers report and the probation officers report that were not ready.
This led to a postponement of the matter to November 5.
According to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) spokesperson Grace Langa in September 2016 Steenkamp was accused of raping an inmate who was detained at the Mitchell's Plain police station.
He was on duty as the cell guard at the time of the incident.
It was later discovered this was not the first inmate to be sexually assaulted by the police officer.
“During investigation it became known that the complainant was not his only victim and more people came forward making the same allegations against Steenkamp.The National Prosecutions Authority decided to charge the accused on 3 counts of sexual assault and 1 count of Rape. The case went to trial and Steenkamp was found guilty on all counts,” said Langa.
He was dismissed from SAPS on April 18, 2017.
Meanwhile last Thursday Jerome Coetzee, a Lwandle police constable accused of driving to a deserted road where he allegedly raped a suspect instead of detaining her is expected to return at the Strand Regional Court on November 11.
The police officer is charged with rape, kidnapping and defeating the course of justice.
At about 8pm in July 2018, Coetzee and other members of the Lwandle police station searched the premises of a woman and allegedly found drugs in the house.
Langa said the woman was subsequently arrested for being in possession of drugs.
“The suspect and his partners went to the police station and the suspect (police officer) dropped his two colleagues and left with the victim. The suspect drove to a deserted road in an industrial area and raped her. The victim was not detained for the drug found in her house.”
Langa said the woman lodged a rape complaint against Coetzee at his workplace.
“After completion of the investigation the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) decided that the suspect Jerome Coetzee to prosecuted for rape, kidnapping and defeating the course of justice.”
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said Coetzee has appeared at the regional court several times.
Cape Times