Durban Police Officers Face Trial Over Perjury Arrest and Alleged Intimidation of Rape Victim

Police officers in Durban face trial for allegedly intimidating a rape victim and arresting her for perjury while her attacker was set free.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 10, 2026, 8:23 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from GroundUp

Courtroom Testimony Details Alleged Misconduct by Specialized Police Unit

The trial of three officers from the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit at Brighton Beach police station continued on Thursday with harrowing details regarding the treatment of a rape complainant known as Q. Gugulethu Buthelezi, Phila Xulu, and Sanele Zuma stand accused of orchestrating a cover up following an incident in March 2023. According to the state, the victim was arrested for perjury and transported in the same vehicle as her rapist, Zwelakhe Mashaba, who was later convicted and sentenced to ten years for the crime.

Eye Witness Describes Traumatized Complainant in Police Holding Cells

Detective Juanita Varley testified that she encountered a visibly traumatized Q in the holding cells during a routine shift at the Brighton Beach charge office. According to Varley, Mashaba was seated outside the cell in handcuffs at the same time. When she questioned the situation, Xulu reportedly informed her that the victim had been detained for perjury. Varley noted that because the specialized unit was handling the matter, she felt it fell outside her direct jurisdiction, though the state argued her presence in the office was brief.

Commander Confirms Suspect Release Despite Medical Evidence of Assault

Captain Dennis Njilo, a shift commander, provided critical testimony regarding the administrative handling of the original rape suspect. Njilo confirmed that Mashaba was released using a 328 form, a document reserved for cases where evidence is deemed insufficient for prosecution. This release occurred despite a J88 medical form confirming that sexual penetration had taken place. According to Njilo, the records indicated that Mashaba was a repeat offender with previous arrests for both rape and intimidation.