Kuruman woman faces perjury case after rape complaint against police constable withdrawn

IPID says the 18-year-old admitted making a false statement after the officer allegedly failed to pay R400 following consensual sex. She was released on warning, with the matter postponed to 16 October.

An 18-year-old woman from Kuruman faces a perjury case after the rape charge against a 24-year-old police constable was withdrawn in court, according to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).

The case followed a complaint about an alleged rape at a guest house in Kuruman on 23 September 2026. IPID said the constable was arrested on 24 September and was due to appear in court on the rape charge.

Before that appearance, IPID spokesperson Lizzy Suping said the woman told an investigator that she had made a false statement. According to IPID’s account, she said the sexual encounter had been consensual and that she reported the officer because he had not paid an agreed R400.

Those details remain an attributed account from IPID, rather than an independently tested finding in a trial. The rape charge against the constable was withdrawn, while a perjury case was opened against the woman for allegedly lying under oath and misusing state resources. (enca.com)

Court process

The woman appeared in the Kuruman Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 25 September, and was released on warning. The matter was postponed to 16 October to allow her to obtain legal representation, according to current reporting on the case. (ewn.co.za)

At this stage, the available reports establish that the allegation against the constable was withdrawn and that the woman is facing a perjury matter. They do not establish the final outcome of either legal process. A withdrawn rape charge is not the same as a judicial finding on every fact surrounding the original complaint.

Why the case matters

IPID said the incident showed the damage caused when false reports divert investigative resources from genuine cases. The directorate warned that action would be taken against people who deliberately misuse the justice system.

The case also illustrates why allegations of sexual violence must remain carefully distinguished from proven facts. The original complaint was treated as a rape investigation, but the subsequent account attributed to the complainant changed the legal direction of the matter. The courts, rather than public commentary, will determine whether the perjury allegation is proved.

What happens next

The next confirmed step is the woman’s scheduled court appearance on 16 October 2026. The key issues to watch are whether she secures legal representation, how the perjury case proceeds and whether further court information clarifies the evidence behind the withdrawn rape charge.

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