National rape kit crisis: 76% of SA police stations have no rape kits in stock for victims
9 August 2019
The Democratic Alliance (DA) can reveal that 76% of police stations in South Africa do not have adult rape kits in stock. A further, 69% of stations do not have child rape kits in stock.
Without these kits, evidence in reported rape cases cannot be collected, and, without evidence, the ability to successfully prosecute rapists diminishes drastically. It is wholly unacceptable and a damning indictment on the South African Police Service (SAPS) that only a handful of police stations are equipped to successfully gather evidence from victims of rape.
The shortage of rape kits is a crisis of national importance, which needs to be resolved as a matter of great urgency.
These shocking statistics were revealed by the National Police Commissioner after a request for information submitted by the DA.