A Grassy Park police officer has been arrested after he allegedly forced a housewife, who was previously a victim of rape, to masturbate him in her home.
The alleged incident happened on Thursday afternoon, and Sergeant Winston van Schalkwyk was arrested on sexual assault charges.
He appeared in the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court on Friday where his bail bid was denied.
The 48-year-old mother of four from Pelican Park says there was nothing untoward when Van Schalkwyk came to her home, as she does a lot of community work.
“He wasn’t a stranger to me. I haven’t seen him in a while so we caught up on things regarding the community as we worked closely together.”
She says the cop was in uniform and armed.
SIT IN TJOEKIE: Sergeant Winston van Schalkwyk appeared in court
They sat in her dining room, and her son and their domestic worker were also part of the conversation.
“I then sent my son and our domestic worker to Shoprite, while we were still having tea, tart and samoosas.
“Van Schalkwyk then stood up and stretched himself and then he said ‘ kom vat aan my’, and I got a skrik and said ‘ nee, man’.
“He pulled my hands on his private parts and I realised what could happen,” she says, bursting out in tears.
The mother says eight years ago she survived a brutal rape attack at the hands of two men in Schaapkraal and she immediately started having flashbacks.
“I should have died that night. I never got any justice for that case, one was arrested two years later but then the docket disappeared,” she recalls.
She says she was too scared to scream as she was afraid the policeman would shoot her.
“I thought to myself if I must scream, he has a gun.
“He went to the bathroom to get toilet paper. Again he said I must touch him and I said no.
“He took my hands and said ‘ jy, maak klaar’ and I had to masturbate him.
“He again went to the toilet and I started praying. I was numb and when he left, I was shaking.”
She says she waited for her husband to come home and they went to Grassy Park SAPS to file charges the same day.
INVESTIGATE: SAPS’ André Traut
The mom says she has been receiving counselling, but is struggling to cope with the ordeal.
“I am traumatised and I want justice to be served,” she adds.
SAPS’ André Traut says: “This office can confirm that the matter you are referring to is under investigation both criminally and departmentally.”