Police have assured South Africans that rape evidence collection kits remain available nationwide, supporting uninterrupted forensic services for survivors of sexual violence and abuse.
Acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia has moved to reassure South Africans that there is no shortage of adult or child rape evidence collection kits anywhere in the country.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry of Police confirmed that rape evidence collection kits remain available nationwide, with additional supplies currently being distributed through routine procurement and stock replenishment processes.
The Ministry said the deliveries are proceeding according to schedule to ensure police stations and healthcare facilities remain adequately stocked, allowing services to survivors of sexual violence to continue without interruption.
Cachalia described gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) as one of South Africa’s most urgent national challenges, reaffirming the South African Police Service’s commitment to treating survivors of sexual violence with dignity, compassion and urgency.
Rape evidence collection kits are a critical component of the criminal justice system, enabling trained healthcare professionals to collect forensic evidence that supports police investigations and strengthens criminal prosecutions.
The Ministry said maintaining a consistent supply of the kits ensures forensic evidence can be collected as soon as possible after incidents are reported, improving investigators’ ability to build strong cases and increasing the likelihood of successful prosecutions.
The assurance comes as government continues efforts to strengthen South Africa’s response to gender-based violence and femicide, while improving access to services that support survivors and hold perpetrators accountable.
Police urged survivors of sexual violence to report incidents as soon as possible so they can receive medical care, psychosocial support and access to the forensic processes that play an important role in securing justice.
