Dear Editor
The Democratic Alliance has submitted a comprehensive set of Parliamentary Questions to force SAPS to account for the increasing crisis in the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), where DNA backlogs continue to rise while capacity indicators show alarming decline.
Recent performance data confirms a sharp 30.88% increase in DNA case exhibit entries, climbing from 383,858 in 2023/24 to 502,407 in 2024/25. Yet finalised entries grew by only 4.28%, exposing a system under severe strain. While GBVF-related cases remain prioritised, the overall forensic environment is deteriorating.
Without timely DNA analysis, violent criminals remain on the streets, cases are delayed or struck off the roll, and families of victims are denied justice. The growing backlog means rape and murder cases cannot be finalised, repeat offenders cannot be linked to earlier crimes, and innocent people cannot be exonerated.
The FSL continues to battle:
- Critically low human resource capacity
- Dilapidated and poorly maintained infrastructure
- A lack of maintenance contracts at most laboratories
- Escalating operating costs due to rotating KZN personnel
- Severe delays in decentralising fully fledged forensic services
The National Commissioner confirmed that the KZN forensic laboratory will only open in January, saying they are still waiting for critical equipment from overseas. Meanwhile, promises to expand services to Mpumalanga and strengthen operations in Gauteng lack clear timelines and adequate investment.
South Africans deserve a forensic system capable of delivering swift, credible evidence to secure convictions. The DA will continue to expose failures in SAPS’ forensic capacity and push for urgent, accountable interventions to ensure justice is never delayed due to avoidable government mismanagement.
Regards
Lisa Schickerling MP
DA Spokesperson on Police