Mantashe: Govt pressing ahead with ‘disastrous’ solar geysers programme Replying to questions in the National Council of Provinces on Wednesday, Mantashe said he inherited the problems when he took over the portfolio. FILE: Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe. Picture: @GCISMedia/Twitter.
11 days ago
CAPE TOWN - Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe said the government was pressing ahead with plans to install scores of thousands of solar water geysers but has described the programme as a disaster.
Replying to questions in the National Council of Provinces on Wednesday, Mantashe said he inherited the problems when he took over the portfolio.
Backlog of forensic DNA testing samples now sitting at over 208k
12 May 2021 10:20 AM
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Police Minister Bheki Cele says he hopes the police forensic services will be functioning normally within 18 months.
Police Minister Bheki Cele states that the national backlog in the forensic testing of DNA samples now stands at more than 208,000.
In March the backlog was around 173,000.
Minister Cele has told the National Assembly that the South African Police Services (SAPS) is currently doing all it can to clear the backlog.
Currently, the backlog at our Forensic Science Laboratory stands at 208,291 cases.
Police Minister Bheki Cele
Over 61,000 of these have been received by the laboratory but have not been analysed. Over 36,626 are DNA-related and 82,000 of these are cases related to gender-based violence and femicide.
Cele said more than 77,000 gender-based violence and femicide cases were court-ready but awaiting DNA results and had been prioritised, while more than 2,500 have been finalised.
Nearly 14,000 inmates released on special COVID-19 parole so far, MPs told The special parole was announced by Justice Minister Ronald Lamola in May last year, because the department was unable to enforce social distancing and other COVID-19 protocols in prisons due to overcrowding. FILE: Inmates at the Leeuwkop Correctional Facility. Picture: Thomas Holder/Eyewitness News
12 days ago
CAPE TOWN - The Department of Correctional Services said that nearly 14,000 inmates had so far been released under the special COVID-19 parole dispensation, while 126 – less than 1% - had been returned to jail after committing fresh crimes.
The special parole was announced by Justice Minister Ronald Lamola in May last year in response to the department’s inability to enforce social distancing and other COVID-19 protocols in its facilities due to overcrowding.
Ramaphosa: DNA forensic testing backlog unacceptable, hampering GBV fight The President admitted to gaps and lapses on the part of the police while answering questions virtually in the National Assembly Thursday. President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses the nation on 30 March 2021. Picture: GCIS.
CAPE TOWN– President Cyril Ramaphosa said that the backlog in DNA forensic testing was unacceptable.
He warned that if it was allowed to continue it would hobble efforts to deal with gender-based violence cases.
He admitted to gaps and lapses on the part of the police while answering questions virtually in the National Assembly on Thursday.
A frank admission by Cyril Ramaphosa: “I must admit that there’s not been very good focus and the minister (Bheki Cele) admits this and is now feverishly working to ensure there is greater focus.”