By: Pamella Majola
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on Acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia to urgently intervene in what it describes as serious logistics and supply chain failures that are affecting the availability of rape kits at police stations across the country.
The party says it recently conducted a series of oversight visits to police stations in several provinces, where it discovered that rape kits were not consistently available despite their critical role in the investigation of sexual offences.
According to the DA, the shortages raise serious concerns about the ability of the South African Police Service (SAPS) to effectively support survivors of sexual violence and gather crucial forensic evidence needed for criminal investigations and prosecutions.
DA spokesperson Lisa Schickerling said preliminary findings suggest that rape kits may be reaching provincial stores or other points within the SAPS supply chain, but are not reliably making their way to police stations where they are needed most.
She said the apparent breakdown in distribution is undermining efforts to combat gender-based violence and could delay investigations, compromise evidence collection and negatively affect the pursuit of justice for victims.
The DA has urged Cachalia to take immediate steps to address the reported supply chain shortcomings and ensure that all police stations are adequately stocked with rape kits. The party has also called for greater accountability and oversight within SAPS procurement and distribution systems to prevent future shortages.
