The Mpumalanga High Court (Mbombela) has ordered the Minister of Police to pay more than R1.6m in damages to a man who was unlawfully arrested and detained on rape charges that were never pursued, reports The Mercury.

In a judgment delivered by Acting Judge TS Ngwenya, the court found that the arrest of Noah Mathebula Nkavdzi in March 2020 was unwarranted and unlawful.

Nkavdzi testified that he received a call from a police officer in March 2020 instructing him to report to the Thulamahashe Police Station. Upon arrival, he was informed that a rape complaint had been laid against him by two complainants whom he said he did not know.

He was charged and, due to overcrowding at the local holding cells, was transferred to Calcutta Police Station.

After his first court appearance, the matter was postponed, and he was later transferred to the Nelspruit Correctional Services Centre. 

Nkavdzi said as a result of spending more than 50 days in detention, he lost his job and struggled to secure new employment while the criminal case remained pending.

His record was only cleared in early 2025.

Ngwenya ordered the Minister of Police to pay Nkavdzi just over R1.5m plus interest for unlawful arrest and detention.

The Minister was also ordered to pay R100 000 plus interest for past loss of income.

Full report in The Mercury

Judgment