52 748 forensic samples backlog is hampering fight against crime  

There is a national backlog of 52 748 post-mortem, toxicology and drunken driving samples awaiting processing at the Forensic Chemistry Laboratories (FCLs) in Pretoria, Cape Town and Johannesburg.

According to a reply to a DA parliamentary question, as at 31 October 2013, across all at three national Department of Health managed forensic laboratories there are: 

• 17 017 unprocessed toxicology samples, 
• 34 185 unprocessed blood alcohol drunken driving samples; and
• 1 546 blood alcohol unprocessed post-mortem samples

These delays have a severe impact on our criminal justice system and on victims of crime. 

The failure to provide timely analysis of blood samples results in delays in the investigation and prosecution of crimes. Due to a lack of evidence, criminals are left wandering our streets and drunken drivers continue to cause havoc on our roads. In addition, most of the time unnatural causes of death can only be investigated once results from the lab have been provided - until this  happens, families are left without closure.

It is imperative that evidence from forensic laboratories is provided timeously. Without evidence, crimes cannot be properly investigated and nor can criminals be convicted. 

For a number of years the DA has proposed some of the following solutions in order to help alleviate this backlog:

Remove both the Forensic Science Laboratory from the South African Police Services (SAPS) and the Forensic Chemistry Laboratories from the Department of Health, and merge them into a Forensic Laboratory Service which would operate as a private-public partnership. The Forensic Laboratory Service would be independent from the SAPS and Health Department, and would be legally bound by strict operating conditions and service delivery targets. All laboratories would need to be accredited in order to be operational and all forensic analysts would need to be registered with the Council for Natural Sciences.

Build more forensic laboratories - at least one per province.

Focus on staff retention policies such as improving working conditions and providing incentives. 

I will be submitting follow-up parliamentary questions to Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi to ascertain what plans he has in place to ensure that forensic laboratories improve their turnaround times. I will also write to the Minister reiterating our recommendations. 

Timely forensic analysis results are critical to decreasing crime in our country. It will also provide relief to families and friends who will be provided with information about the cause of death of their loved ones.

Minister Motsoaledi must take full responsibility for the functioning of the FCLs, considering the crucial role they play in the justice system, and act as a matter of urgency.

Statement issued by Dianne Kohler Barnard MP, DA Shadow Minister of Police, January 12 2014

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