Shameful sergeant sentenced: 20 years for teen rape in cop shop scandal

Cape Town – A former police sergeant, Thembalethu Gqeku, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison by the Qumrha Regional Court in South Africa’s Eastern Cape for raping a 17-year-old girl at Kei Mouth Police Station on August 8, 2022.

According to reports, the victim had come to report a domestic violence case, and Gqeku, then 50, lured her to the detectives’ office, where he raped her.

“Once inside the office, Gqeku closed the door and proceeded to rape the petite victim on top of the table. The young woman managed to fight back, injured him on the head using an empty bottle, and ran to the charge office screaming,” The Citizen quoted National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Luxolo Tyali as saying.

But Gqeku was only arrested ten days later by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) after initial inaction by his colleagues, the report said.

NEWS: The Qumrha Regional Court sentenced former police sergeant, Thembalethu Gqeku (50) to 20 years imprisonment for the rape of 17-year-old woman inside the detectives’ office in the Kei Mouth Police Station on 08 August 2022.

Gqeku was convicted and sentenced this week, not… pic.twitter.com/XeWxocqFEA

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The case was initially dropped due to the victim’s trauma but was later re-enrolled after she received therapy.

Gqeku, who resigned from the police and worked as a security guard, pleaded not guilty, claiming the victim assaulted him while under the influence of drugs.

Medical evidence and testimony disproved his claims.

The court highlighted the aggravating factors, including Gqeku’s abuse of authority and use of state resources, and added five years to the minimum 15-year sentence, citing his lack of remorse.

The victim, deeply traumatised, expressed distrust in the police.

According to EWN, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) expressed approval of the conviction and sentencing of the former detective.

“IPID Eastern Cape provincial head, Ms Bongiwe Tukela, says GBVF is a scourge in our country and the department has noted a trend where victims alledge that they were being raped whilst being picked up from taverns, which is a concern. Therefore, IPID is very pleased on its impartial investigation, as well as the dedication of the NPA,” IPID spokesperson Lizzy Suping said, as per the report.