DNA backlog reduced by 55% ahead of ‘Safer Festive Season’

Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola on Friday said the police ministry “made significant progress in reducing the DNA backlog“.

He shared the ministry’s action plan for ensuring a ‘Safer Festive Season’ during the holidays, saying the focus will be on six main areas.

Masemola said the South African Police Service (Saps) deployed “maximum resources this festive season” to ensure crime is dealt with over the coming weeks.

SA’s DNA backlog

Masemola said the backlog stands at 64 000 (as of 8 December 2022), which is a reduction of 55.02% since he assumed office in March 2022.

With this reduction, we are confident that more cases will be finalised.

However, if offenders are not identified in time and the delay continues, the justice system fails victims who are unable to find closure.

Masemola also called on the public to work with officials and report cases of gender-based violence (GBV) timeously.

Cele’s disappointing November update

Back in November at the GBVF Summit, Police Minister Bheki Cele dodged questions pertaining to the DNA backlog.

At the time, Cele merely said the backlog of 241 000 was slashed by 71 000, adding that it should be entirely cleared by January 2023.

However, he failed to provide raw data to back up the claim.

He also didn’t respond to Eusebius McKaiser’s request to explain in detail what Saps has done to eliminate GBV.

ALSO READ: Organisation questions Cele’s DNA backlog figures

Perpetrators walking free

Speaking to The Citizen, the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities spokesperson Shalen Gajadhar said perpetrators walk free while DNA samples are processed.

His department is working with the police ministry to clear the backlog by speeding up processes in analysing samples, establishing new laboratories, and accrediting private labs to assist.

Read more here by Sipho Mabena.

Meanwhile, Pietermaritzburg Life Line Director Sinikiwe Biyela said the delay tells perpetrators they are free to do as they please, and that they will likely be out on bail should they be arrested.

Biyela said children under the age of 12 cannot testify in court and “argue with their perpetrators”, therefor DNA samples are vital to prove who the rapist is.

“If GBV is identified as a pandemic, we want resources to be put in place to fight it… If they process DNA for paternity in three weeks, why does it takes years for rape survivors?”