Parliament, Wednesday, 29 March 2023 – The Portfolio Committee on Police has urged the senior management of the South African Police Service (SAPS) to expedite processes to acquire building facilities for the KwaZulu-Natal Forensic Science Laboratories (FSL) to ensure the effective provision of DNA analysis of cases in the province.
The committee conducted in loco site visits to labs in Amanzimtoti, and although it was impressed with the turnaround times for case analysis, it highlighted concerns with the cost implication of not having adequate facilities for the FSL.
The committee highlighted that the projected timeframes of 18-24 months to have a fully equipped and optimally functioning laboratories was unacceptable as such the SAPS must utilise the District Development Model to find urgent solutions. “We are of the view that all spheres of government must communicate and find suitable accommodation for the labs. The service provided by the FSL is critically important in the fight against crime especially Gender Based violence and murder cases,” said Mr Nocks Seabi, the leader of delegation.
The concerns by the committee are based on the cost implication involved with transporting personnel to Cape Town or Pretoria to do essential analysis as well as the cost of leasing inadequate infrastructure currently. The committee was informed that the SAPS is currently spending about R500 000 monthly to lease three buildings to house various divisions of the FSL. Also, the travel cost involved in transporting staff to either Cape Town or Pretoria is extracting resources that could be spent on improving technology at those labs.
Also, the committee is concerned by the state of the leased buildings, especially the fact that two buildings are located in a flood plain which leads to temporary closure during flooding, which directly impacts on productivity.
Despite this concern, the committee welcomed the assurance that the intervention to deploy staff to Cape Town and Pretoria had a positive impact on the turnaround time of case docket analysis. Furthermore, the committee welcomed the assurance of collaboration between members of the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster (JCPS) that ensured that cases that are due in court are fast-tracked to ensure that no cases are thrown out of court due to unavailability of DNA analysis. The committee also welcomed the assurance that high standards of docket handling procedures are maintained when samples are in transit.
Meanwhile, the committee has called for adequate capacitation of FSL facilities with trained human capacity to alleviate the current shortfalls. The committee was informed that the current human capacity is 295 personnel, with an ideal staff compliment of 366 for the optimal functioning of the FSL in KZN. The committee welcomes the assurance that 240 Bachelor of Science graduates were recruited as constables and are currently undergoing training for placement within the FSL environment.
The committee will move to Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape to assess the state of readiness for the North End Laboratory to be functional at the beginning of April. Itremains of the view that the optimal functioning of Forensic Science Laboratories is critical in the fight against crime and measures must be in place to ensure their functionality. Itwill also in the afternoon interact with Community Police Forums, a critical stakeholder in the fight against crime.
Details of the visit (Day 2)
Date: Thursday, 30 March 2023
Time: 09:00
Venue: SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory North End, Gqeberha
NB: The full programme of the visit can be downloaded here: https://tinyurl.com/nhu5f2jk
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE LEADER OF DELEGATION OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON POLICE, MR NOCKS SEABI.
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