JOHANNESBURG - The police are supposed to be the gateway to justice for victims of abuse, said Professor Dee Khosa.
However, the arrest of Shadrack Sibiya for sexual crimes only entrenches the perception that there are barriers to said justice, she adds.
Sibiya appeared at the Randburg Magistrate's Court on Tuesday. He was arrested last week for the alleged rape of an 18-year-old woman and the alleged sexual grooming of a 16-year-old.
He also faces more charges, including trafficking in persons.
Meanwhile, in the Eastern Cape, several women have accused a police captain of rape.
"A survivor cannot reach a prosecutor or court without first trusting the police with the most painful moment in their lives," said Khosa.
"It is quite damaging for the very same police," she said.
In a country where the powerful are often seen as untouchable, confidence can be restored should the prosecution be free from interference, Khosa said.
Khosa, however, also said it is a good thing for police to see senior officials be held accountable in criminal matters.
"When allegations reach senior leadership, people ask whether the culture tolerates abuse," she said.
READ: Witness intimidation, possible escape: Sibiya sent to Kgosi Mampuru
However, the arrest of senior police personnel shifts the perception within the police.
Rape and trafficking carry lengthy prison terms. Sibiya, whose job it was to investigate the exact crimes, is in for a fight, she said.