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Forensic Backlogs Threaten Justice

Statement by Ian Cameron MP – DA Deputy Spokesperson on Police:

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is calling for an urgent national intervention to expand South Africa’s forensic DNA-processing capacity, including properly regulated partnerships with capable university laboratories, following the shocking response to DA Parliamentary Questions.

The latest parliamentary replies confirm that South Africa’s forensic DNA system is facing a serious capacity crisis:

  • 298,710 DNA exhibit entries are on hand
  • A whopping 228,017 entries currently exceed the prescribed processing timelines on 90 days. Of these, 33,678 are Crime Index samples (court-related evidence), which are particularly critical for prosecutions.
  • There are 62,975 case entries related to rape, murder, and sexual offences against children currently on hand. This includes 32,009 Crime Index samples, which are essential for court cases involving the most vulnerable victims.
  • The average age of entries is estimated at 800 calendar days, meaning many victims are waiting over two years for forensic results. The oldest entry on hand, at 1,273 calendar days, is attributed to administrative errors, but the sheer volume suggests this might not be an isolated incident.

A DNA backlog is not merely an internal administrative problem.

When DNA evidence is not processed, suspects are not linked to crime scenes, detectives lose vital leads, prosecutors are left with weaker evidence and victims wait longer for justice.

In serious cases involving murder, rape and other violent crimes, an unprocessed DNA sample may be the difference between identifying a dangerous offender and allowing that offender to remain free.

The DA is particularly concerned by reports that some laboratories may be analysing only one crime-scene exhibit in cases where three or four potentially relevant exhibits were collected.

The DA will also seek confirmation of whether any exhibits have become unusable, contaminated, lost or otherwise compromised because of processing delays. A parliamentary question on this remains unanswered.

South Africa cannot continue relying only on a forensic pipeline that is unable to keep pace with demand. SAPS must urgently assess partnerships with suitably equipped and accredited universities.

Every delayed DNA result represents a real case, a real victim and a real risk that a perpetrator may escape justice.

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  1. Be careful of the man who stays calm and smiles in a crisis for he has already found someone to put the fault on.

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