No shortage of rape evidence collection kits, says Cachalia
Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia says South Africa has sufficient adult and child rape evidence collection kits, rejecting DA claims of shortages at Western Cape police stations.
Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has assured South Africans that there is no shortage of adult or child rape evidence collection kits in the country.
He has confirmed that kits are available nationwide, adding that more are being distributed to keep facilities fully stocked.
“Gender-based violence and femicide remain one of South Africa's most pressing national challenges, and the South African Police Service remains unwavering in its commitment to ensuring that every victim of sexual violence is treated with dignity, compassion, and urgency,” said spokesperson in the Ministry of Police, Kamogelo Mogotsi.
“Rape evidence collection kits are available throughout the country, and additional kits are currently being distributed as part of ongoing procurement and replenishment processes.”
Mogotsi said the deliveries “are proceeding as planned to ensure that facilities remain adequately stocked and that services to victims are not interrupted.”
SAPS’ response comes after the DA claimed there would be no rape kits beyond 1 August in the Western Cape.
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The party said Cachalia promised that rape kits would be delivered and distributed to all SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Violence (FCS) units from 24 July.
According to Cachalia, SAPS also procured some 11,000 forensic evidence collection kits during April.
“However, during DA oversight conducted on 14 and 15 May 2026, numerous FCS Units and police stations in the Western Cape were found to have no rape kits available,” the DA said in a statement.
“To date, the Acting Minister has failed to explain how more than 11,000 kits could allegedly have been procured in April while frontline investigators were unable to access them only weeks later.”
