/ 31 July 2009

Police probe torture allegations

An investigation has been launched into allegations that police tortured the wife of a missing Ga-Rankuwa detective, Superintendent Eugene Opperman said on Friday.

“Everything will be investigated… the allegations and the missing of the detective,” he said.

Sarah Rapeta alleged that police interrogated her in Rustenburg.

She said police tied up her hands, covered her face with thick plastic and administered electric shocks to her body, while questioning her about the disappearance of her husband Detective Inspector Bachipile Andrew Rapeta.

Rapeta went missing on the night of July 2, on his way home from work at the Ga-Rankuwa police station.

An intensive search, which included the dog unit, air wing and the divers, failed to find him.

His car was found in the veld behind the old traffic department building in Ga-Rankuwa Zone 15, two days after he went missing.

In 2004 Constable Francis Rasuge went missing. She was last seen outside a hair salon in Temba with her former boyfriend, William Nkuna.

Nkuna was convicted in October 2005 of murdering Rasuge even though her remains had not — and have yet to be — found. — Sapa