Minister Cele, MEC Mazibuko contradict each other on availability of rape kits in Gauteng

21 November 2019

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has learnt that the Temba Police Station in Hammanskraal, Tshwane does not have a single rape kit. This is due to a lack of stock at the national store.

This was revealed to me by the Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, Faith Mazibuko in a written reply to my questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.

This is contrary to what the Minister of Police Bheki Cele told the National Assembly on 13 November 2019 that all provinces do not have a single police station that does not have rape kits. According to the Minister all police stations have rape kits.

It is high time that MEC Mazibuko liaises with her counterpart Minister Cele to ensure that they provide the Temba Police Station with rape kits.

The lack of rape kits at the police station results in police being unable to effectively tackle rape and gender-based violence.

Without these kits evidence in reported rape cases cannot be collected, and without evidence the ability to successfully prosecute rapists is drastically reduced.

The DA will continue to put pressure on both MEC Mazibuko at the provincial level and Minister Cele at the national level to ensure that all our police stations are equipped with an adequate number of rape kits in order for rape survivors to get justice and the perpetrators to be held accountable.

Issued by Michael Shackleton, DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Community Safety, 21 November 2019