SAPS trainee exposes alleged sexual harassment

A SAPS trainee from Kimberley will not be able to complete her degree this year after she revealed alleged gender-based violence and sexual harassment at a police training academy.

A South African Police Service (SAPS) trainee from Kimberley will not be able to complete her studies this year after she exposed alleged gender-based violence and sexual harassment at the police training academy.

The 32-year-old trainee said she was suspended from SAPS Academy Tshwane in Pretoria last week after reporting she was sexually harassed by her trainer.

She added that she realizes that it is important to speak up to end the violence and be a voice for those who are too afraid to do so.

She attempted suicide in September, feeling powerless and the thought of returning home without completing her training terrifying.

“I was afraid to speak up, but I couldn’t stand his sexual advances any longer. What was I supposed to tell my family who was rooting for me if I went home without a badge? My nephew bragged to everyone that I was going to be a policeman. At the time it seemed like it (suicide) was the only solution, but fortunately someone managed to stop me from taking my own life.”

She believes she faced stigma and reprisal not only because of reporting on the coach, but also because of her LGBTQI status.

“I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve locked myself in the toilet to cry. I was treated like a sex object by a person I should respect,” she said.

“I had a strict trainer-trainee relationship, but he made intrusive comments about my weight loss, buttocks, breasts and thighs. I had trouble setting boundaries because I didn’t want to seem rude.”

She added that in August he allegedly grabbed her wrist and told her to “have a baby with him.”

“He tried to get me to tell him things that turned me on. That was the last time I went to his class.

She stated that she was prevented from attending classes and platoon meetings.

“I was hospitalized for six days after attempting suicide and was not allowed to attend classes without any referral. At the same time, I was warned that I would be expelled for missing classes. This is despite the fact that my leave is not a medical briefing, but rather an instruction from management.”

She added that a decision was made to postpone her shooting training until the outpatient consultations with a psychologist were completed.

She said her colleagues testified that they felt unsafe around her, and she was falsely accused of threatening platoon members.

“I am receiving the help I need to fully recover. I have never threatened anyone. I was withdrawn and never contacted anyone about my experience.”

She added that she was served with a suspension letter on October 22.

“I was told I couldn’t train due to a health condition that I wasn’t informed about. I refused to sign the dismissal letter. I did not consent to sharing my psychologist’s opinion and it is supposed to be a confidential document.”

She recalled that the psychiatrist asked her in a “condescending tone” whether “hanging herself was normal.”

“I explained that I was willing to consider admission to a psychiatric hospital after completing my training. She asked me why I was thinking about my future when I decided to take my own life.

“Instead of addressing the root of the problem, I experienced violence, humiliation and suspension.”

She added that she finally broke down while she was on duty, “doing nothing” and under constant surveillance.

“I had enough and called my mother to come pick me up. I was treated like a criminal and was closely guarded at all times due to false threats.”

She stated that suspended trainees must wait a year before they can resume classes.

“I would come back tomorrow. I’m stronger now and I know how to defend myself. I want to join the police so that I can fight gender-based violence, femicide, drug abuse and lawlessness.”

She begged for a chance to finish her grades.

“I refuse to accept defeat. I am focused on working hard to achieve my goals. I don’t want to be a victim ever again. The discipline at the university brought out the best in me.”

The director of the Shaine Griqua Counseling and Development Center in Kimberley, Shaine Griqua, has asked for the intervention of national and provincial commissioners to speed up the process to enable her to graduate in December.

He also condemned the lack of action taken against the alleged perpetrator.

“Law enforcement officials should not be protected when caught in the act. I also reported the incident to the Commission for Gender Equality and the MEC for Security and Communications,” Griqua said.

He stressed that more needs to be done to protect victims of gender-based violence and demanded a full-scale investigation into the alleged incident.

National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe noted that SAPS does not discriminate against any person on the basis of sexual orientation, ethnicity or gender identity.

“The national commissioner of SAPS, General Fannie Masemola, is aware of this matter and has directed that an investigation into all allegations should be conducted on an expedited basis. Other issues related to the suspension of training cannot be discussed in the media as they contain sensitive and confidential details,” Mathe said.

She added that allegations of sexual harassment were treated “with the utmost care and urgency” in line with the service’s sexual harassment policy.