IT TOOK nine years, but a former police officer has been convicted for the rape of his neighbour’s 15-year-old daughter.
The ex-police officer, Frederick Soldaat, who held the rank of Warrant Officer, was found guilty of raping the teenager while her mother was at work.
The incident took place in Montagu in August 2016 and was investigated by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).
Soldaat, 64, is expected to be sentenced on 14 April at the Montagu Regional Court.
The State proved that on the evening of the sex attack, the teen had heard a noise, a knock at the door, while her mother was working nightshift.
Frightened, the teenager walked over to her neighbour’s residence and asked if she could wait there to which he had admitted he was the one who had knocked on her door.
Soldaat then raped the girl who later informed her mother of what had happened.
He also resigned from the police service in 2017.
IPID previously indicated that Soldaat was granted bail while facing trial.
Soldaat is one of more than five police officers in the Western Cape who are accused of rape.
Earlier this month, the two Mooreesburg officers who are alleged to have raped and kidnapped a woman who they offered a lift on a farm in Mooreesburg has been granted R2 000 bail - and are facing six counts of rape.
In January, Constable Naveron Jacobs, allegedly raped a female prisoner in the Blue Downs Magistrates Court holding cells.
In November, Constable Siyabonga Mbane, stationed at Mfuleni Police station was arrested followed by another on Christmas Day in Malmesbury.