Western Cape Rape Kit Shortages Leave Survivors Without Care As SAPS Disputes Claims

Survivors of sexual violence in the Western Cape are facing renewed obstacles in accessing justice amid reports that dozens of police stations across the province have run out of rape kits — allegations strongly disputed by the South African Police Service (SAPS), according to the Weekend Argus.

The reports suggest that more than 30 police stations, including high-crime areas such as Khayelitsha, Mitchell’s Plain and Mfuleni, as well as rural stations like Laingsburg and Riebeek West, are without adult (D1) and paediatric (D7) rape kits.

Some kits were allegedly expired as recently as October 2025, with survivors told to return at a later date or travel long distances to find assistance.

An internal document dated 2 December reportedly lists several stations with no stock at all, including Redelinghuys, Atlantis, Pacaltsdorp and parts of George and Mossel Bay. Officials claim some survivors were redirected repeatedly — from Paarl to Atlantis and Malmesbury — in an attempt to locate available kits.

SAPS Denies Crisis, Cites “Healthy Surplus”

SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe rejected claims of a shortage, insisting there is a “healthy surplus” of rape kits in the province.

She said more than 3,700 kits are currently available in the Western Cape, with an additional 2,850 expected to be delivered on 15 December. Nationally, SAPS claims to hold nearly 15,000 adult kits and more than 22,000 child kits.

Despite these assurances, questions remain over whether stock levels on paper reflect what is available at station level.

Oversight Visits Reveal Empty Shelves

An unannounced oversight inspection by Police Portfolio Committee Chair Ian Cameron and DA NCOP member Nicholas Gotsell appeared to contradict SAPS’ claims. During their visit to the SAPS provincial supply chain warehouse in Epping, they found no D1 or D7 kits in stock.

Gotsell later confirmed that several stations listed as having kits — including Sea Point and Paarl — were either without stock or holding expired kits. “There’s a worrying disconnect between what SAPS reports and the reality at ground level,” said Gotsell.

Civil Society Warns of Re-Traumatisation and Lost Justice

Barbara Rass, founder of the Western Cape Thuthuzela Care Centres, described the reported shortages as a breach of fundamental rights. “Victims are being retraumatised. It’s as if they are raped again by the system,” she said.

Child protection organisation Molo Songololo also reported hearing of shortages in areas it serves, including Atlantis, Beaufort West and Worcester. Director Patrick Solomons warned that even short-term gaps could compromise forensic evidence and weaken court cases.

“Proper oversight and coordination are critical. No facility should ever be without these kits,” he said.

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Advocacy group Action Society echoed these concerns, linking the alleged shortages to broader failures in SAPS procurement and oversight. “The trauma begins anew when survivors are turned away, told to wait, or forced to leave without an examination. This undermines justice,” the organisation said.

As SAPS continues to deny that there is a crisis, activists and oversight bodies argue that the gap between official assurances and lived reality remains dangerously wide. The controversy has gained added urgency during the 16 Days of Activism campaign, placing the state’s commitment to combating gender-based violence under intensified scrutiny.

Further unannounced inspections are expected following the planned 15 December delivery, as civil society groups and opposition MPs continue to demand accountability and transparency.

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