CAPE TOWN – A devastating shortage of rape investigation kits has been uncovered across Western Cape police stations, leaving survivors of sexual assault without access to crucial forensic evidence collection in numerous rural and high-crime areas.
The crisis came to light during the final day of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, revealing that multiple police stations across the province have been operating without any rape kits available, severely compromising investigations into gender-based violence cases.
The shortage has particularly affected vulnerable communities, with several stations recording zero availability of adult rape kits (D1) and limited supplies of child rape kits (D7).
Among the most concerning cases:
- Redelinghuys has no adult kits and only 30 child kits, with neighbouring stations Elands Bay and Piketberg also completely depleted of adult kits
- Pacaltsdorp shows zero adult kits and 48 child kits, while nearby George, Knysna, Groot Brakrivier and Mossel Bay have no kits of either type
- Atlantis has been left with no kits whatsoever, alongside neighbouring stations Melkbosstrand, Table View and Philadelphia
High-crime areas including Harare, Khayelitsha, Mfuleni, Lwandle, Mitchell’s Plain, Ocean View, Belhar, Grassy Park and Wynberg have similarly been left without any available kits.
The situation is particularly bleak in the vast Central Karoo region, where the entire area covering Beaufort West, Laingsburg, Leeu Gamka, Murraysburg and Prince Albert has access to only two adult kits and three child kits – all located exclusively at Laingsburg station.
The shocking extent of the shortage was revealed through Democratic Alliance (DA) oversight led by DA Member of Parliament Nicholas Gotsell, who conducted unannounced visits to key facilities.
On 9 December, during an unannounced oversight visit to the SAPS Supply Chain Store in Epping, the DA discovered completely empty shelves with no D1 or D7 rape kits in stock. This finding confirmed reports from multiple stations where officers had been unable to collect forensic evidence due to depleted or expired kits.
Following up on these findings, the DA conducted an urgent, unannounced visit to the National SAPS Supply Chain facility in Silverton, Pretoria, where available stock was confirmed to exist at the national level.
Within hours of the DA’s oversight visit, an urgent requisition was suddenly sent from the Western Cape to the national facility, requesting 1,540 D1 adult rape kits and 1,300 D7 child rape kits. SAPS has confirmed these supplies will arrive in Cape Town on 15 December.
The timing of this requisition – immediately following the DA’s investigation – has raised questions about the management of the supply chain system and why urgent action was only taken after external oversight exposed the crisis.
Despite SAPS maintaining that hundreds of rape kits are available across the province, the DA has been provided with certificates showing the actual stock levels at all 172 stations, revealing the stark reality on the ground.
The investigation has also highlighted concerning disparities in kit distribution. While some stations like Delft reportedly have 180 D1 kits, vast rural areas and high-crime stations have been left completely without supplies, raising serious questions about equitable distribution of these critical forensic tools.
The DA has announced it will conduct unannounced spot checks at stations across the province to verify actual kit availability and monitor the 15 December delivery to ensure stations most in need are supplied without delay.
The party is also demanding a full list of every rape reported during the 16 Days of Activism, including evidence and investigation status for each case.
“Failing to provide rape kits, especially at rural, isolated and high-crime stations, is a devastating failure in the fight against GBV,” said Gotsell. “The Government cannot preach activism while survivors face empty shelves when they seek help.”
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