Police leadership defends forensic labs, credits intensified operations for spike in DNA submissions
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has pushed back against claims of a growing backlog in its forensic laboratories, insisting that the surge in DNA cases is a result of intensified policing efforts rather than inefficiency.
Speaking at a SAPS summit held in Gauteng on Wednesday, Deputy National Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya rejected allegations that the forensic division is overwhelmed.
“There is no backlog,” Sibiya stated. “You cannot punish us for working hard and say there’s a backlog. We’re seeing more results because we’re increasing our operations. Last year alone, we received 150,000 more cases than the previous year due to heightened activity.”
This statement comes after the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Police reported last month that the SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory division was grappling with a DNA backlog exceeding 140,000 cases.
Sibiya, however, attributed the growing case load to intensified policing campaigns, particularly Operation Shanela, which has led to a higher number of arrests and DNA sample collections.
“As we intensify operations and more suspects are apprehended, naturally the workload increases,” he said. “But we’re addressing it by using overtime and other resources to manage the demand effectively.”
The SAPS maintains that, while workloads have increased, systems are in place to handle the volume and ensure that justice processes are not delayed.