- Jerome Coetzee, a Lwandle police officer, was found guilty of raping a young pregnant woman in 2018, following a trial in the Wynberg Regional Court.
- The victim, who was six weeks pregnant at the time, was allegedly taken into custody under false pretenses and raped by Coetzee.
- After reporting the incident and identifying Coetzee, the case was investigated by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, leading to his conviction and upcoming sentencing.
The long arm of the law caught up with a Lwandle police officer in the Wynberg Regional Court on Monday 14 October, when he was found guilty of raping a young pregnant woman six years ago.
The accused, Jerome Coetzee, was convicted of the charge brought against him following the sexual assault back in 2018.
DistrictMail previously reported on the heinous crime, which occurred on Wednesday 4 July 2018 when the then 18-year-old expectant victim was supposedly taken into police custody by three police officers, including Coetzee, who raided the one-room flat she then shared with her boyfriend (“Local cop accused of heinous deed”, 12 July 2018).
In an interview granted to the publication on condition of anonymity, the victim who was around six weeks pregnant at the time, recalled being home alone when the trio appeared on her doorstep about 20:00. They claimed to be following up on a tip-off and searched the place for drugs. Moments later she was apparently informed that three small bags containing drugs were found and she was to be taken to the police station.
During the search, the policemen also allegedly took an amount of cash from a Bible and confiscated her cellphone and house keys, before transporting her to the police station in an unmarked vehicle.
On arrival, the officers allegedly told her they would not be going inside. Instead, they were going in search of her boyfriend.
After a trip through the township, the three policemen took her back to the police station. Outside, two got out while Coetzee got behind the wheel, informing her he would continue the search with her in the vehicle.
The policeman, the victim’s account indicated, made a stop at Strand Police Station, where he told her to wait in the car before going inside. Returning minutes later, he allegedly told her: “I have helped you, now you must help me.” she recalled. At the time, she remained quiet amid tears.
The officer allegedly drove her to a dark spot at a local business park, where he parked the car, then allegedly forced himself on her and raped her inside the vehicle. He allegedly took her back to the house and returned her cellphone and some of the money taken during the search.
Urged by a friend, the young woman went to Lwandle Police Station at 08:30 the following morning to report the incident, where she was helped by a caring officer. Yet police allegedly refused to take the case.
Following legal advice, she approached Strand police, who registered the case, and alerted the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid). The police watchdog’s officers accompanied her to Lwandle Police Station, where she positively identified Coetzee as the suspect, and they took her to a local hospital for medical treatment. Amid Ipid investigations Coetzee was charged and arrested for rape.
Coetzee initially remained in service pending a disciplinary process. Lwandle police confirmed his dismissal in March last year.
The case against Coetzee has been postponed to Friday 29 November for sentencing.
Considering the developments in the case, DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette reached out to the victim who expressed her satisfaction with the wheels of justice which turn slowly, but grind finely.
The now 25-year-old victim and mother to an almost six-year-old daughter, whom she welcomed into the world following the traumatic ordeal, further shared feeling anxiously positive while awaiting the accused’s sentencing. “We hope that justice prevails and a hefty imprisonment is handed down to the accused,” said the Strand resident.
