Police react swiftly to rape kit shortage claims

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has reacted quickly to the Democratic Alliance’s claims that there was a shortage of rape kits across South Africa.

SAPS announced last week that they had signed a procurement contract with a company to supply a variety of evidence collection kits used in rape cases.

According to a statement issued by SAPS the supplier will provide 13 different types of collection kits including adult sexual assault kits, paediatric sexual assault kits and Buccal (swab) sample collection kits.

The first consignment was received on August 17 and according to the SAPS, a distribution plan had been designed to ensure that there is stock at stations across the country for the next three years.

On August 11 DA’s spokesperson on police, Andrew Whitfield, claimed there was a shortage of rape kits across South Africa.

Whitfield said 76 percent of police stations in South Africa did not have adult rape kits, while 69 percent did not have child rape kits in stock.

SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said that a dispute with the supplier forced SAPS to cancel its contract after allegations of corruption arose between the supplier and members of the SAPS.

Before this, however, the kits were procured and managed nationally by SAPS head office supply chain management and distributed to stations around the country, with the numbers managed on a central database.

As time progressed, kits were being used but not replaced because of the termination of the contract.

It was then that SAPS introduced a contingency by instructing provinces to start procuring these evidence collection (rape) kits on a quotation basis.

This was done as and when needed, pending the finalisation of the awarding of a bid to a single successful supplier.

Umhlali SAPS spokesperson Vinny Pillay said all rape cases that came into the Umhlali SAPS were handled by the station and evidence collection kits were in stock.