Police Ordered to Pay R800,000 to Man Without Manhood Wrongfully Arrested for Rape

The South African police minister has been ordered to compensate a man with R800,000 after he was wrongfully arrested and detained for 54 days on rape charges, despite having no genitalia due to a childhood accident.

The KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg ruled in favor of the man, whose identity remains protected, after he sued for unlawful arrest and detention. The charges, based on allegations that he had raped a neighbor’s child, were eventually withdrawn by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) before trial. However, the court dismissed his claim for malicious prosecution against the NPA.

The 26-year-old was arrested on March 26, 2020, at his home in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal. His father immediately informed the investigating officer about his medical condition, which should have ruled out the allegations. Despite this, the police ignored the information, detained him without bail, and later transferred him to Ladysmith Correctional Centre. He remained in custody until May 18, 2020, when the charges were dropped.

During his time behind bars, he endured overcrowded conditions, a broken toilet, and no access to running water. The court criticized the investigating officer for failing to verify the man’s medical condition and for not informing the prosecution, leading to his wrongful and prolonged imprisonment.