There are over 117 rape cases reported every day in South Africa. Action Society has highlighted that there is still a backlog of over 140,000 cases of DNA from two years ago a direct threat to an effective criminal justice system that wishes to combat gender-based violence (GBV).
THE BACKLOG
The organisation says the crisis seems far from being resolved. "Thousands of victims of rape and violent crime, as well as families of murder victims, are not getting their day in court," said Action Society spokesperson, Juanita du Preez. "We call on the Auditor General of South Africa to investigate the crisis on an urgent basis and to urge the South African Police Service to heed calls to enter into Public-private partnerships with private forensic laboratories and universities immediately to tackle the crisis head-on."
THE ROOT
According to Action Society, the problem started in 2020 when the Forensic Services Laboratory (FSL) ground to a halt due to Minister Bheki Cele failing to pay the agreed fees for the PCEM system. "This caused a backlog in forensic testing in over 125 000 cases, of which 92% were sexual assault kits. In March 2021, the FSL head, Major General Edward Ngokha, confirmed that the backlog stood at 172 787 and that nothing had been processed for in January or February." The numbers kept increasing until Action Society filed a complaint with the Public Protector in October 2021.
REMOVAL OF CASES ON COURT ROLL
An investigation conducted in 2023 found that "lack of sufficient budget was a key contributor to the increase in FSL backlogs, and financial mismanagement ?" including under-budgeting, under-spending and neglecting supplier contracts ?" was rife." The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron said, "It is inconceivable that despite various interactions and interventions, as well as reprioritisation of funding to resolve the backlog and ensure scientific-based prosecution of cases, the backlog remains stubbornly high, which will lead to the removal of cases from the courts roll."
