Blame game on rape kit issue

Junior staff gave ‘wrong details’ about shortages at police stations

Eastern Cape provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Liziwe Ntshinga has said SAPS junior staffers who deal with administration should answer for the “incorrect” report on the lack of rape and DNA kits at Eastern Cape police stations.

On Monday night, Ntshinga angrily said in a telephone interview: “Am I the administrator, I don’t compile reports.

“This is an administration issue. I sent out a statement on Friday and I am standing by that statement.

“I am the provincial commissioner, I can’t be answering on administration issues, I am dealing with strategic issues.

“I can’t be answering about things done by staff officers and clerks,” she said.

Her comments come five days after her office released a media statement announcing that she had launched an internal investigation.

On Friday, MEC of safety and liaison Weziwe Tikana told parliament that police stations in the province had no rape or DNA collection kits.

This sparked public outrage, with the DA calling it a crisis and betrayal of rape victims.

On the same day, Ntshinga hit back with a statement slamming the information from her own office as incorrect, followed by an announcement that she had launched an investigation.

In her statement, Ntshinga said: “My office would like to reassure the people of the Eastern Cape that while the process of procurement is pursued, service delivery will not be compromised and therefore the situation is under control.”

A source close to the matter told the Dispatch that Ntshinga called for officials involved to be charged.

The source said the officer who fed the information to the MEC, head of finance and administration Brigadier Tobela Mjali, 54, was in turn apparently fed the information by provincial head of detectives Brigadier Daniel Tello Bohata.

On Monday Bohata said: “I know the facts and I even know the people who put blame on other people.

“You don’t know internal politics here.”

He declined to talk about his role.

Mjali could not be reached. Popcru chair Colonel Loyiso Mdingi said: “It’s good this happened to the MEC so she can see Ntshinga’s management style.”