DA parliamentary question reveals KZN's staggering 8 388 DNA forensic case backlog
8 June 2021
A written parliamentary reply to questions posed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) has revealed that KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) currently has a staggering 8 388 DNA forensic case backlog – dating back as far as February 2020.
According to the May 2021 reply (view here) – signed by provincial Community Safety MEC, Peggy Nkonyeni, KZN SAPS Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and other police top brass, the cases have not yet been analysed at the forensic services laboratory (FSL) in KZN. This must take place before they can be sent to the SAPS Biology Section in Pretoria for final testing.
Further shocking information contained within the reply includes;
- A total of 5 400 of the cases relate to sexual assault
- The provincial unit currently has 20 staff vacancies
- As many as 24 items of specialised machinery are currently not functional and;
- The backlog comes despite a supposed 35-calendar day turnaround for results.
The DA is horrified by these findings. Given the information provided, it is little wonder that so many people are suffering while criminals are essentially being given a licence to murder and rape with impunity.