\n\t\tPolice forensics labs received over 500 000 samples for testing over an 18 month period with over 200 00 being processed this year.\n\t<\/p>\n
South Africa\u2019s DNA and ballistics analysis laboratories will start 2026 with a hefty backlog in untested samples.<\/p>\n
While labs can process hundreds of samples every day, the influx of samples due to the rate of crimes being investigated outstrips that number.<\/p>\n
Additionally, millions have been spent on overtime hours, yet the staff complement at government facilities has declined in recent years.<\/p>\n
Available resources<\/p>\n
The scale of the backlog was recently listed by the Ministry of Police in a written response to a parliamentary question. \u00a0<\/p>\n
The ministry\u2019s response given in December stated that the South African Police Service (Saps) has four regional labs: Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Western and the Eastern Cape.<\/p>\n
These labs test DNA, ballistics, chemistry and biological samples.<\/p>\n
However, toxicology analysis is done by the National Health Laboratory, which falls under the Department of Health, and those figures were excluded.<\/p>\n
In the financial years since 2023, including 2026, R39.5 million had been allocated for overtime payments to address the backlog, as well as an additional R4.5 million spent on capital assets.<\/p>\n
The number of laboratory technicians available to be deployed at the labs declined from 1\u00a0810 in 2021 to 1\u00a0694 at the end of September this year.<\/p>\n
Forensics backlog<\/p>\n
The forensic science laboratory received 227\u00a0094 new samples in the first six months \u2014 April to September \u2014 of the current financial year.<\/p>\n
An additional 278\u00a0229 were carried over from the previous financial year, with a total of 210\u00a0635 exhibits being finalised by the lab by the end of September.<\/p>\n
Of the 505\u00a0323 samples that required testing in the last 18 months, the labs were thus able to process 41% of those exhibits in a six-months period.<\/p>\n
Ballistics exhibits totalled 92\u00a0057 new and carried over samples with 51\u00a0696 finalised between April and September.<\/p>\n
New and carried over chemistry samples totalled 149\u00a0445, with 97\u00a0475 finalised in that time period mentioned. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSome samples had \u201cexceeded internal performance timeframes\u201d, with that number sitting at 210\u00a0426 as of the end September.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe biggest contributor to the high outstanding entries is intelligence case entries for biology, with a figure 177 023.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe intelligence entries are not court-bound but necessary for processing and loading into the National Forensic DNA Database for investigative purposes,\u201d the Ministry stated.<\/p>\n
\u2018Not possible to determine\u2019 completion date<\/p>\n
Asked for a projected timeline on when the backlog would be addressed, the ministry said it was difficult to calculate.<\/p>\n
\u201cTaking into account the intensification of police operations, such as Operation Shanela II and changes in crime patterns which directly affect the increase of incoming exhibits on a yearly basis, it is not possible to determine the number of entries exceeding timelines in advance.\u201d<\/p>\n
Steps to speed up the backlog include a partnership with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.<\/p>\n
There is also a joint Saps and National Prosecuting Authority national technical inter-sectoral committee focused on court-bound cases.<\/p>\n
Additionally, there is a national forensic pathology services committee focused on unidentified human remains, which meets on a quarterly basis.<\/p>\n
\u201cNational and provincial efficiency enhancement committees chaired by the Chief Justice focus on court case flow and convene on a bi-annual basis,\u201d the ministry concluded.<\/p>\n