A senior member of the Kutama Sinthumule Maximum Security Prison’s top management was this week suspended, after being accused of allegedly raping a female employee at the prison.

Initial media reports stated that the senior member of staff was arrested by the police and was due to appear in court. Another daily newspaper even reported that the official was “behind bars”. This information, supplied by the police’s communications office in Thohoyandou, later proved to be incorrect. It is not known why incorrect information was given to the media.

What could be established as fact by Wednesday was that the senior official was suspended following the outcome of an internal investigation. The official was not arrested and did not appear in court. He did, however, give a statement to the police at their request. The case relates to an alleged incident on Friday night last week. A female employee at the prison alleges that the official had raped her during an after-hours meeting between them.

The National Prosecuting Authority’s official policy in regard to the arrest of certain categories of people is the reason why the official had not been arrested and brought before court. According to this policy, a member of correctional services may not be arrested without written permission from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). Other people falling into this category include members of the SAPS, the SANDF, magistrates, prosecutors, judges and persons with diplomatic immunity. As far as could be determined, the case has already been referred to the DPP and a decision on the matter is expected within the near future. The name of the senior official can not be released until such time as he pleaded in court.