The Portfolio Committee on Police has raised serious concerns about ongoing delays at the South African Police Service (SAPS) Forensic Science Laboratory, warning that these backlogs are significantly hampering efforts to combat statutory rape and gender-based violence.
The concerns were highlighted during Parliament’s Statutory Rape Inquiry, as recent SAPS crime statistics reveal that more than 10,000 rape cases were reported in the first three months of the year alone. These figures have intensified questions about how delays in DNA analysis are affecting investigations and the delivery of justice for victims.
Dr. Viwe Sobudula, a Gender Specialist and Feminist, addressed the implications of these systemic challenges. She commended the Portfolio Committee for bringing these issues to public attention, noting that the act of highlighting under-reporting, backlogs, and infrastructure deficits serves as a critical form of advocacy.
“The evidence base that is collected is an important part of establishing what needs to happen in rape cases, looking at conviction rates, and also the rate in which victims are encouraged to actually speak out about rape culture,” Dr. Sobudula stated.
She emphasized that victims often face intimidation and fear due to power dynamics with perpetrators, contributing to low reporting rates. Additionally, she pointed to a critical gap: the SAPS currently lacks a dedicated framework to deal specifically with statutory rape cases.
While government departments have allocated budgets and run awareness campaigns—including Social Development’s Child Protection Week and school-based drives on rape culture—Dr. Sobudula questioned whether these initiatives are achieving meaningful impact. “The statistics are really high, and it means that there is a problem in terms of us looking at the impact,” she said. “Government departments need to do more.”
Dr. Sobudula argued that society has not yet been sufficiently “radicalized” to understand and dismantle rape culture. She cautioned against treating anti-GBV campaigns as public relations exercises, stressing that real change requires holding perpetrators—including those in positions of power—accountable.
“The question really is: is our society radicalized enough to be able to deal with the issues of rape culture? At this point in time, it is not,” she said.
With gender-based violence having been declared a national crisis during last year’s G20 summit, the pressure is mounting on SAPS and other government entities to translate policy and awareness efforts into tangible results. As the Portfolio Committee on Police continues its inquiry, the call for urgent reform at the Forensic Science Laboratory—and a broader societal shift in addressing rape culture—grows ever more urgent.
