The enormous backlog with the compilation of forensic reports by the Gauteng Police Service’s Forensic Department illustrates the challenges that members of this specialist division face on a daily basis.
The response to a question by the FF Plus to the Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, Faith Mazibuko, regarding the backlog with forensic investigations indicated that on 4 March this year, the number stood at 149 391.
Mazibuko also confirmed that only 35 quantification sets had been received by the laboratory in Pretoria by 4 March 2021. These sets are used in conducting forensic investigations and preparing reports.
The lack of personnel and equipment hampers forensic technicians’ task of preparing cases for court. As a result, courts are put under pressure because forensic reports are not submitted in time. And courts have no choice but to repeatedly postpone the hearings of cases while awaiting these reports.
The backlogs in the various forensic divisions are as follows:
• Biological (comparing the victim and perpetrator’s bodily fluids and hair samples as well as doing DNA analysis) – 111 342
• Ballistic (firearm analysis) – 9 849
• Chemical (investigations relating to fires, drugs, chemically matching paint samples in car accidents etc.) – 26 679
• Scientific (investigations into forensic samples of materials, fluids, medicine, poisonous substances etc.) – 1 474
• Suspect documents (the investigation of documents, such as wills, title deeds, contracts, ID documents, hand-written documents etc.) – 44
• The identification of victims – 3
Mazibuko indicated that routine evidence is usually ready within 35 days from registration, non-routine evidence is finalised 113 days after registration and ballistic evidence after 90 days from registration.
The FF Plus is not satisfied with the report’s findings and will request Mazibuko to provide more detail to the Gauteng Legislature’s Committee on Community Safety so that the pressing problems can be addressed.
It is unfair that court proceedings are delayed and victims’ rights are violated due to a lack of personnel and equipment.
The FF Plus will ask Mazibuko once again to establish cooperation between public and private laboratories so as to catch up on the backlog.
Read the original article in Afrikaans by Kobus Hoffman on FF Plus
