Government slammed over rape kits
2013-03-06 21:44
Pretoria - Incompetent supply chain systems in government
were behind shortages of rape kits in Gauteng and North West, lobby group
AfriForum said on Wednesday.
Head of community safety Reg Crewe said the requisite
forensic evidence was vital to back up police findings on rape crimes.
"In light of the serious [amount of] reported rapes,
and the huge public outcry, one would think government would regard this matter
as serious and worthy of their most urgent attention," he said.
"It is, however, impossible to ignore the reality in
South Africa today. To top it all, victims' rights are now trampled on due to
incompetent supply chains within government."
Crewe urged the authorities to ensure that sexual assault
and rape kits were always available at police stations across the country.
"Victims deserve justice, and justice deferred is justice
denied."
On Tuesday it was reported that police management had
ignored calls for meetings to discuss the shortage of kits used to collect DNA
forensic evidence from rape victims.
The Gauteng health department's forensic pathology
service reportedly raised the shortage as a matter of urgency more than seven
months ago.
- SAPA
