The Portfolio Committee on Police has criticised the long lead time, as outlined in plans to move the Forensic Science Laboratory from leased buildings in Amanzimtoti, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), into a government building. The committee made this observation during its oversight visit to the laboratory as part of its constitutional obligation to conduct oversight over the executive.
“We consider the 18 to 24 months’ period as unacceptable, especially in the context of the critical role DNA analysis plays in the fight against crime. The concerns are based on the fact that delays in DNA and forensic analysis place cases at risk, especially gender-based violence and murder cases,” said Mr Nocks Seabi, the leader of the portfolio committee delegation visiting the sites.
The committee was also concerned that the leased buildings, especially two that are built on a flood plain, have to close whenever there is flooding, which has a negative effect on productivity. Another concern is that despite the huge cost incurred to lease the buildings, at an average cost of around R500 000 per month, they pose a risk to health and safety.
Another risk factor is that analysts in KZN are sometimes transported to either Cape Town or Pretoria to perform their duties at a huge cost to the South African Police Service (SAPS). The committee encouraged SAPS senior management to exploit the District Development Model to work with provincial and local government to find suitable working space to accommodate the KZN Forensic Science Laboratory.
While the committee acknowledge that supply chain management regulations must be followed in acquiring a building, it highlighted its concern that the 18 to 24 months allocated for the move will make the current transportation of staff to Cape Town and Pretoria unsustainable.
Meanwhile, the committee welcomed the announcement that current interventions have improved productivity levels and the backlog in analysis cases has been drastically reduced. “The clearing of the backlog can only be a positive to the fight against crime and the acquisition of adequate facilities will enhance the turnaround time of docket analysis,” Mr Seabi emphasised.
The committee also welcomed the assurance that the case management committee within the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster is working to ensure that cases on the court roll requiring DNA analysis are identified and fast-tracked to ensure they are not thrown out of court for lack of DNA analysis. The committee emphasised how important it is to have a properly functioning forensic laboratory to fight crime effectively.
The committee will be visiting the new state-of-the-art forensic laboratory in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape. The visit is intended to assess the facility’s readiness to operate at maximum levels when it opens in April.
Malatswa Molepo
30 March 2023
Arrange a tour