The D1 adult rape kits, crucial for collecting evidence in sexual assault cases, are in critically low supply in the Western Cape, highlighting serious failures in the SAPS management.
Concerns about rape kit shortages have once again been thrust into the spotlight in the Western Cape following explosive allegations that several specialised police units tasked with investigating rape and child sexual abuse cases may be operating with critically low and in some instances allegedly no forensic kits.
The concerns were formally raised in a letter addressed to Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia by DA MP Nicholas Gotsell following oversight visits to Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) units across the province.
According to Gotsell, unannounced oversight inspections conducted on May 14 and 15 at FCS units in Nyanga, Delft, Bellville, Mitchell’s Plain, Caledon and Hermanus revealed critically low stock levels of adult D1 rape kits, with fewer than 10 kits allegedly available at each facility.
More concerning, however, was the allegation that no D7 rape kits for children were available at any of the units inspected.
