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A former police officer, who was released on a warning following her arrest in connection with the gang rape of eight women at the West Village mine dump in Krugersdorp in July, had allegedly guaranteed safety for the film crew and the women.
Dolphina Truter faces theft and defeating the ends of justice charges after she was found in possession of the stolen items belonging to the victims.
Truter (46) appeared in the Krugersdorp Magistrates' Court on Wednesday following her arrest on Tuesday and will be back again at the same court on November 28, as the matter was postponed to allow police to conduct further investigations.
The ex-warrant officer at the Krugersdorp Police Station was part of the film crew when the young women were allegedly raped at gunpoint while shooting a music video three months ago.
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City Press understands Truter worked closely with the filming agency and insisted that the mine dump was a suitable location for the gospel video.
According to a police officer close to the investigation, Truter allegedly assured the women and film crew that the location was not dangerous and that security was not needed.
The officer said:
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Police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili confirmed that the arrest was of a former police officer.
“Police arrested a woman for theft and for defeating the ends of justice. It was discovered by the investigating officer that the woman had in possession property that belonged to one of the victims of rape,” she said.
Over 80 suspects have already been arrested in connection with the incident and they have been charged with contravening the Immigration Act pending an identification parade to be held.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane confirmed that Truter was released on warning.
Police Minister Bheki Cele met with the families of the rape survivors at the Alexandra Police Station days after the incident took place.
He said that he had asked the forensic science laboratory to fast-track DNA testing to successfully link the suspects of the Krugersdorp gang rape attack to the crime.
Commissioner for detectives and forensic services Khosi Senthumule added that some of the suspects who were expected to ascend the dock were not on the national DNA database.
"Remember, these are foreign nationals, so not all of them will be on our database. The team is working around the clock, and we believe that by the latest on Friday, we will have the results of their DNA and we'll be able to match them to the DNA found at the crime scene," she said.
