By Johnathan Paoli
The Portfolio Committee on Police has called for a systematic overhaul of South Africa’s forensic services, saying the ongoing DNA backlog crisis is due to mismanagement rather than a lack of facilities.
Committee chair Ian Cameron was responding to comments made by the SA Police Service Forensic Science Laboratory head Tshilidzi Mulaudzi, who suggested that the backlog could be resolved by establishing more forensic laboratories across the country.
“The views held by Major-General Mulaudzi obfuscates the current challenges and provide unrealistic solutions within the South African context. The SAPS must deal with systematic issues that affect the FSL currently and not seek pie-in-the-sky solutions that cannot be achieved within the current fiscal challenges faced by the country,” Cameron said.
The chair dismissed the department’s approach as unrealistic within the country’s current fiscal constraints.
The backlog, which has surged to over 140,000 cases, has been attributed to chronic underfunding, poor planning and mismanagement.
Key forensic instruments have been out of operation since 2020 due to expired maintenance contracts, and storage inadequacies have resulted in case files being stored in hallways, with exhibits precariously stacked in overcrowded safe rooms.
These conditions not only threaten staff safety but also compromise the integrity of forensic evidence.
The chair warned that if these risks were not urgently addressed, they would continue to plague the forensic division, even if additional facilities were established.
“These challenges stem from poor management, inadequate planning and a persistent disregard for the role of science in solving criminal cases,” Cameron said.
Previously, the Democratic Alliance formally requested that the Auditor-General conduct a forensic audit of SAPS’s DNA processing capabilities arguing that the backlog has led to a “sabotage of justice,” particularly in cases of violent crime and gender-based violence.
“The commander at forensic creates the impression that these are minor mishaps. However, this backlog represents 140,000 victims of violence and sexual assault who may never see justice,” Cameron asserted.
The DA’s proposed audit would focus on contract management, laboratory processes and the overall governance of forensic services.
The party has also criticised SAPS’s failure to renew maintenance contracts for forensic equipment, resulting in critical software updates being neglected and further exacerbating the crisis.
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has acknowledged the backlog, stating that improving forensic services is a key priority.
His spokesperson, Kamogelo Mogotsi, said the ministry was working to address the challenges but did not provide a timeline for when the backlog might be cleared.
Meanwhile, Western Cape Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC Anroux Marais has called on the police commissioner to intervene, warning that the inability to prosecute criminals due to forensic delays was failing victims of crime.
“We cannot further compromise our ability to prosecute criminals. I will be engaging the provincial commissioner to determine the impact of this mismanagement,” she said.
Community policing forums and court watchdogs have expressed outrage, citing numerous cases that have been delayed or struck off the roll due to missing forensic evidence.
Beyond the immediate legal implications, the backlog has had a devastating impact on families seeking closure in missing persons cases.
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