Critical bottlenecks at the South African Police Service’s Forensic Science Laboratory are jeopardizing prosecutions related to statutory rape and gender-based violence, according to warnings issued by the Portfolio Committee on Police.
The alert came amid proceedings of Parliament’s Statutory Rape Inquiry, where lawmakers examined how forensic backlogs affect case outcomes. Official SAPS data indicates that over 10,000 rape incidents were recorded during the year’s first quarter, intensifying scrutiny over whether delayed DNA processing is obstructing investigations and denying victims timely justice.
Dr. Viwe Sobudula, a Gender Specialist and Feminist, provided expert commentary on the ramifications of these systemic failures. She praised the Portfolio Committee for elevating the discourse, stating that publicly identifying obstacles—such as under-reporting, case backlogs, and insufficient infrastructure—constitutes meaningful advocacy.
“Collecting credible evidence is fundamental to addressing rape cases, improving conviction rates, and encouraging survivors to come forward,” Dr. Sobudula explained.
She noted that many survivors hesitate to report assaults due to fear and intimidation stemming from unequal power relationships with alleged perpetrators. Compounding the challenge, she highlighted that the SAPS currently operates without a specialized procedural framework tailored to statutory rape investigations.
While national departments have implemented awareness initiatives—including Social Development’s Child Protection Week and educational programs addressing rape culture in schools—Dr. Sobudula questioned their effectiveness given persistently high crime figures. “The data remains elevated, signaling that current interventions are not yielding the impact we need,” she observed. “More decisive action from government entities is essential.”
Dr. Sobudula further argued that societal attitudes toward rape culture remain insufficiently transformed. She warned against framing prevention campaigns as reputational exercises rather than instruments of substantive change.
“Are we treating these efforts as genuine transformation, or as public relations?” she asked. “Real progress requires holding accountable those who perpetrate violence, regardless of their status or influence.”
Gender-based violence was formally designated a national crisis during the previous year’s G20 summit, underscoring the urgency of coordinated, results-driven responses. As the Portfolio Committee on Police continues its oversight role, demands are growing for accelerated reforms within the forensic laboratory system and a deeper societal commitment to dismantling the structures that enable sexual violence.
Dr. Viwe Sobudula emphasized that without radical shifts in both institutional practice and public consciousness, efforts to combat gender-based violence risk remaining symbolic rather than transformative.