A South African man wrongfully accused of rape has won a lawsuit against the police minister, who has been ordered to pay R800,000 in damages for his unlawful arrest and detention.
The accused, who lacks genitalia due to a childhood accident, was detained for 54 days despite his condition making the allegations biologically impossible. Arrested in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, in 2020, he remained in custody under harsh conditions before charges were eventually dropped.
The KwaZulu-Natal High Court condemned the investigating officer for ignoring crucial medical evidence and failing to inform prosecutors, leading to the man’s prolonged imprisonment. The ruling also criticized the inhumane conditions in South African correctional facilities, highlighting severe overcrowding and neglect of basic human right.