The Police Ministry has assured the public that South Africa (SA) has a full nationwide stock of adult and child rape evidence collection kits.
The confirmation comes amid persistent concerns over the state’s ability to tackle the country’s severe gender-based violence crisis. The SA Police Service’s (SAPS) fourth-quarter crime statistics for the 2025/26 financial year show an 8.5% decline in reported rape cases.
However, activists say the decline does not reflect the reality experienced by survivors on the ground.
They say many survivors choose to be silent due to a lack of trust and confidence in the criminal justice system.
SAPS Ministry Spokesperson, Kamogelo Mogotsi says, “In cases of this nature, I can confirm that the SAPS ensures there are specialists available to deal with these types of cases, whether at police stations or within dedicated units. These specialists are trained to handle such matters, and the SAPS works to ensure they are available to provide the necessary support.”
–SABC–
