A former Lwandle policeman convicted of raping a pregnant young woman in an incident first reported six years ago will be brought to book this week.
Jerome Coetzee was expected to be sentenced in the Wynberg Regional Court on Friday 29 November (“Rape accused awaits sentencing,” DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette, 23 October). However, he took ill and the case was postponed to Thursday 12 December. The former police constable was convicted of the charge brought against him following the sexual assault back in 2018.
DistrictMail previously reported on the 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 had shared with her then-boyfriend (“Local cop accused of heinous deed”, 12 July 2018).
Speaking anonymously, the victim recalled being around six weeks pregnant and home alone when her attacker, one of a trio, appeared on her doorstep around 20:00, after an alleged drug tip-off. Moments later she was apparently informed three small bags containing drugs were found and she was put into a police vehicle bound for Strand Police Station. They continued driving around, with one officer, Coetzee, eventually stopping at Strand Police Station briefly. He then allegedly took her to a secluded area where he raped her in the vehicle.
The woman reported the incident the next day to Lwandle police, but officers initially refused to take her case. Following legal advice, she informed Strand police, who made a case and notified the Independent Police Investigative Directorate. Coetzee was identified and charged. After being in service for a while he was dismissed in March last year after disciplinary action.
