Aphiwe Deklerk Political reporter 12 May 2021 Bheki Cele: I apologise to all victims of crime for the pain and anguish these delays have caused. The national backlog at forensic science laboratories is 208,291 cases. Image: GCIS
Police minister Bheki Cele has apologised to victims of crime whose cases have been delayed by backlogs at forensic crime labs.
He said the backlog was giving police sleepless nights.
“It has been nightmares for everyone relying on the services of the laboratories to find fight justice and closure,” said Cele.
He said his department has been working hard to solve the issue of backlogs.
Police Minister Bheki Cele and Police Commissioner General Khehla Sitole. (Photo: Jaco Marais/Gallo Images)
The police s forensic case backlog now stands at 208 291, about 36 000 more than what it was at the start of March.
Bheki Cele presented the police s turnaround plan to the National Assembly.
The debate was called by DA MP Andrew Whitfield.
Police Minister Bheki Cele admitted the police s forensic case backlog – which now stands at 208 291 cases – is giving the police sleepless nights.
It is about 36 000 cases more than what it was at the start of March, when the backlog was 172 787 cases, after the police failed to process a single forensic DNA exhibit in January and February due to a lack of consumables.
Opposition parties slammed the SAPS saying it has failed victims of crime, specifically gender-based violence and rape.
DA MP Andrew Whitfield placed the blame squarely on Cele, but said President Cyril Ramaphosa was complicit in the crises.
“Now, this debate today is not about politics, but it is about executive accountability and because the minister has failed so spectacularly to resolve a crisis which he has caused, the buck today must stop with the president.
“Fundamentally, though, this is a debate about justice and why the failure to take forensic sciences seriously has led to a miscarriage of justice for thousands of victims of some of the most violent crimes in our country. It is about ensuring that there are consequences for violent criminals and that they are not put back on to our streets to rape and murder with impunity,” said Whitfield.
Cele apologises to National Assembly as DNA backlog climbs to almost 200 000 cases
By Mayibongwe Maqhina
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POLICE Minister Bheki Cele on Tuesday apologised in the National Assembly for the now more than 200 000 outstanding DNA result backlogs in forensic science laboratory services.
Cele made the apology during a debate sponsored by the DA on the crisis of DNA crisis.
The outstanding DNA results were standing at 172 787 as at February and dated back as far back as April 2019. The backlogs now stand at 208 291.
Speaking during the debate, Cele said the backlogs had given them sleepless nights.
“It has been a nightmare for everyone relying on services of science laboratories to find justice and closure.”
Published May 11, 2021, 4:16 PM
Eumir Marcial
With less than 10 weeks before the Tokyo Olympics, top officials from amateur boxing have urged Eumir Marcial to focus on his training in preparation for the Tokyo Olympics.
Not on giving statements based on unfounded claims.
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) commissioner Ramon Fernandez denied Marcial’s declaration that the government has not been supporting him since he decided to leave for the US last October.
“As far as the PSC is concerned, tuluy-tuluy ang allowance niya maski nag-professional na siya (he continues to receive his allowance even when he turned professional,” Fernandez said Tuesday, May 11,2021 during the online PSA Forum.