Is the SAPS Faking the Numbers on Rape Kits in the Western Cape?

The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Western Cape has misled the public about rape kit availability while many stations have empty shelves or only expired stock.

This is according to the Democratic Alliance (DA).

Nicholas Gotsell, a DA MP, says the SAPS has lied about the availability of rape kits in Cape Town and Paarl. In addition, Gotsell says that there is a severe shortage of the kits across the province. Rape kits are used by medical staff to collect forensic evidence after sexual assaults.

The DA conducted several unannounced oversight visits to police stations in Cape Town and Paarl and found that the number of rape kits that the SAPS claimed to have in stock did not match reality.

According to Gotsell, Sea Point was recorded by the SAPS as having 109 kits, Cape Town Central 123 kits, Paarl 70 kits, and Athlone 20 kits.

However, when the DA conducted oversight at the stations, they found a very different picture, with Sea Point holding only 5 kits, and Cape Town Central, Paarl, and Athlone having none in stock.

Police stations in Cape Town areas with high crime rates, such as Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain, also had no kits.

Gotsell said: "This is a deliberate misrepresentation. Someone, somewhere, is cooking the books and lying to the public."

At the same time, there is a severe shortage of rape kits in the province. For example, stations in Pacaltsdorp, George, Knysna, Groot Brakrivier, and Mossel Bay had no kits.

The DA says this failure to provide accurate numbers about the number of rape kits available in the province, as well the failure to maintain adequate stock levels across the province, suggests a lack of both honesty and basic distribution planning by Western Cape SAPS leadership.

The party says it will continue unannounced inspections at stations and press the provincial police commissioner for a full explanation of how the misleading information was generated and used.