IPID flags 5 259 police misconduct cases as Western Cape tops the list

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has recorded 116 rape cases involving police officers during the 2025/26 financial year in South Africa. According to IPID spokesperson Lizzy Suping, 72 of these cases were allegedly perpetrated by police while on duty. This follows the arrest of suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya, who faces charges including rape, human trafficking, and the sexual grooming of a child.

The 2025/26 financial year saw a total of 50,511 gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) cases reported to the South African Police Service, with 30,736 resulting in arrests or referrals to the National Prosecuting Authority. The IPID registered 5,259 cases, with 332 being GBVF cases; 116 of these were rape cases by police officers, 58 were assault and torture, 24 were murders, and 10 involved the discharge of an official firearm.

KwaZulu-Natal had the highest number of GBVF cases, followed by Gauteng, the Free State, and the Eastern Cape and Northern Cape. Dot Field, a non-executive board member of the GBVF Response Fund, expressed deep concern over the statistics, particularly the involvement of police officers in GBVF cases. Field stressed the need for swift and effective investigation and prosecution, highlighting that reported cases are likely just the tip of the iceberg.

Vanessa Samuel-Chetty from the National Dialogue Steering Committee (GBVF Sector) noted that the figures may not fully reflect the actual number of cases due to issues like corruption, and expressed disappointment over the conviction rate.