A Kimberley-based Non-Governmental Organisation has raised the alarm over South Africa’s mounting DNA testing backlog, warning that the delay poses a significant threat to justice for victims of crime — particularly those impacted by gender-based violence.
The South African Police Service’s Forensic Science Laboratory is currently grappling with a staggering backlog of more than 140,000 DNA cases, prompting concern about the prosecution of offenders and the efficiency of the criminal justice system.
Shaine Griqua, Director of the Shaine Griqua Advice and Development Centre, has urged government leaders to prioritise the establishment of a forensic laboratory in the Northern Cape to ease the burden on the national system.
“I want to see the Northern Cape becoming a province with its own laboratory,” said Griqua. “I’m calling on Premier Zamani Saul to invest and redirect funding to make this a reality so that we can tackle this backlog. It’s absolutely essential.”
The DNA testing delay continues to stall legal proceedings across the country, leaving many victims without closure and compounding the trauma they’ve already endured. Griqua says the need for regional forensic capacity has become urgent, especially in provinces like the Northern Cape, which currently lacks such infrastructure.