By Marcus Moloko
Brigadier Mishak Mkhabela is the head of the South African Police Service’s ballistics section at the Forensic Science Laboratory in Silverton.
He is a seasoned officer whose role involves overseeing the Integrated Ballistics Identification System, a tool used to link bullets and cartridge cases to firearms and criminal incidents.
Mkhabela’s testimony before the Madlanga Commission revealed the strain on his unit, which was battling with a backlog of over 41 000 cases and a severe shortage of qualified analysts.
His testimony to the commission provided an eye-opening account of operational challenges within the SAPS forensic services.
His testimony also addressed procedural flaws in the investigation of Q Tech engineer Armand Swart’s murder, including delays in evidence processing, administrative errors in reports, and questionable oversight.
Mkhabela pointed to an urgent need for reform in forensic operations to restore effectiveness in firearm-linked investigations.
Backlog and staff shortages
Over 41,000
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