Parliament, Wednesday, 11 March 2025 – The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Mr Ian Cameron, has received information that the South African Police Service (SAPS) Forensic Science Laboratory division is facing yet another crisis, with the DNA backlog exceeding 140 000 cases. This perpetual crisis happens despite the concerted efforts made by the 6th Parliament committee and assurances that the situation was improving and that the backlog would be erased. This crisis is a direct threat to an effective criminal justice system that is able to process and prosecute criminals and efforts to combat gender-based violence (GBV).
“It is inconceivable that despite various interactions and interventions, as well as reprioritisation of funding to resolve the backlog and ensure scientific-based prosecution of cases, the backlog remains stubbornly high, which will lead to the removal of cases from the courts roll. Those in positions of authority must be held accountable for this mess, as it represents a clear case of dereliction of duty,” Mr Cameron said.
The backlog, according to Mr Cameron, means that thousands of victims might never see the justice they are entitled to, while violent criminals remain free to continue terrorising innocent people. The committee has always maintained that DNA evidence represents the only lifeline for rape survivors and other victims of violent crime, yet SAPS’s continued mismanagement of forensic services has created an environment where justice is delayed, denied and outright sabotaged.
Despite numerous assurances to Parliament, it is concerning that service contracts for forensic equipment have expired, meaning that vital instruments are unusable and unmaintained. Also, the SAPS management has ignored repeated recommendations to partner institutions of higher learning that have forensic capabilities, thereby showing complete disregard for the crisis and unwillingness to adopt corrective measures.
“In 2021, in the mist of the worst backlog crisis within the division, SAPS management stood in front of everyone and made commitments that they have now seemingly disregarded. It is unacceptable that measures that were promised to ensure that the National Forensic Science Laboratories is productive were seemingly just management playing lip-service to the challenge. People must be held accountable,” Mr Cameron emphasised.
The revelation of the backlog, longstanding challenges with accommodation for laboratories, the low number of police officers trained to take buccal samples and inability to manage contracts to ensure that they are renewed timeously all contribute to this perpetual problem.
As a result, the Chairperson will request the Office of the Auditor General to conduct a full forensic audit into SAPS’s DNA processing and forensic laboratories as well as contract management within the division. It is clear that the public deserves transparency on where the failures are occurring, who is responsible, and what must be done to fix it.
It is the committee’s long-held view that the SAPS Forensic Laboratory Services must be urgently stabilised and restructured, to ensure effective prosecution. Furthermore, SAPS management must be held accountable for this perpetual crisis or we risk further eroding trust in our criminal justice system.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON POLICE, MR IAN CAMERON.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairpersons, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Malatswa Molepo (Mr)
Parliamentary Communication Services
Tel: 021 403 8438
Cell: 081 512 7920
E-mail: mmolepo@parliament.gov.za
Arrange a tour