Police Minister Ordered to Pay R25m to Rape Survivor Andy Kawa After 15-Year Legal Fight

Minister Ordered to Pay R25m to Rape Survivor Kawa After 15-Year Legal Battle

Gqeberha, 18 September 2025 – The Minister of Police has been ordered by the Eastern Cape High Court to pay Gauteng businesswoman Andy Kawa over R25 million in damages, nearly 15 years after she was brutally raped on the Gqeberha beachfront.

The horrific attack in December 2010 left Kawa traumatized and severely scarred. What began as a simple walk along the beach turned into a 24-hour nightmare, during which she was held prisoner, punched, kicked, and raped between the dunes. Her car and belongings were also stolen. Kawa managed to escape the next morning.

Kawa took former Police Minister Bheki Cele and three Humewood police officers to court in 2013, initially suing for R5.8 million for alleged negligence in the handling of her case. The claim was later increased to R60 million.

The court order, issued yesterday, requires the Minister to deposit R25 934 410 into Kawa’s attorney’s account within 30 days, covering all legal costs, including counsel fees, consultations, and witness expenses.

READ: Police Minister Ordered to Pay R25m to Rape Survivor Andy Kawa After 15-Year Legal Fight

Her attacker, Moses Gqesha, was finally arrested in January 2024, more than 13 years after the attack, and was handed eight life sentences in May. Despite earlier rulings in Kawa’s favor being overturned on appeal by Cele, the Constitutional Court allowed her case to return to the High Court, culminating in this settlement.

Speaking after the ruling, Kawa emphasized that the money could never erase her trauma but hoped her case would serve as a beacon for other survivors of gender-based violence (GBV).

“This case can now be used to help other victims of GBV find justice. I hope the laws are going to change and the police are going to fix the dysfunctional system so that we have deterrence – that rape is not tolerated in SA,” Kawa said.

GBV activists hailed the ruling as a watershed moment in South Africa. Activist Lindsay Ziehl, founder of the Andrew Ziehl Foundation, welcomed the decision, highlighting its potential to support vulnerable women, children, and families across the country.

Kawa has committed herself to continuing advocacy work, becoming a voice for other survivors and calling for systemic reforms to ensure justice for all victims of sexual violence.