South African Police Officer Sentenced To 25 Years Imprisonment For R3ping 15-Year-Old Girl At Police Trauma Room

The Montague Regional Court in Western Cape, South Africa, has imposed a 25-year direct imprisonment sentence on police officer Frederick Soldaat for r3ping a 15-year-old girl.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), in a statement released on Thursday, April 34, 2025, noted that the court opted to deviate from the mandatory minimum sentence of life imprisonment because of the accused’s medical condition.

The court found Soldaat, aged 64, guilty of raping the minor, who was 15 years old at the time of the assault, which occurred on 30 August 2016 in the Montagu South African Police Services Victim Trauma Room.

During the trial, State Advocate Heinrich Koert presented evidence showing that the victim’s mother had brought her daughter to the trauma room after a domestic disagreement at home.

The mother asked the police to intervene by taking her daughter to the station to help her calm down. Soldaat was among the officers who initially responded to the complaint.

The police brought the victim to the station and placed her in the trauma room, where Soldaat was required to fill out an admission form that included details such as the complainant’s age, which was fifteen at the time. He later visited her at least twice while she was in the trauma room.

He alleged that the victim commented on the color of his eyes. She initially did not resist, but when he began removing her pants, she resisted, yet he overpowered her. He then r3ped her in the trauma room.

After completing the assault, he left her. The victim returned home the following morning and reported the rape to her mother. Her mother alerted the police, who then continued their investigation.

The victim identified Soldaat, leading to his arrest by the police. The state opposed bail, but the court granted it. Soldaat claimed the s3x was consensual and that he was unaware of the victim’s age.

The case encountered several obstacles before reaching a conclusion, including being handled in a branch court that convenes only once a week, the accused switching legal representatives, which delayed proceedings as transcripts needed to be prepared, and allowing time for his new legal representative to prepare.

Loadshedding, the Covid-19 pandemic, and issues with the CCTV system and court recording equipment contributed to further delays.

In his submissions, Adv Koert argued that the accused transformed a space meant to be a safe haven for victims into the scene of his crime.

The court must work to rebuild the community’s confidence in the police so that future victims of such crimes will feel secure enough to come forward, ensuring justice is visibly served.

Western Cape Director of Public Prosecution, Adv. Nicolette Bell, welcomed the sentence and expressed dismay at the horrific crime committed by a police officer entrusted with protecting the minor victim.

Adv Bell stated that the sentencing delivered justice and closure to the victim, her family, and removed another violent offender from the community.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli