The Portfolio Committee on Police has welcomed improvements within the National Forensic Oversight and Ethics Board (DNA Board), which have enhanced the functionality of the National Forensic DNA Database of South Africa (NFDD) and the Forensic Science Laboratories (FSLs). Since its inception, the committee conducted heightened oversight over this environment in the belief that forensic science is at the centre of successful criminal prosecutions.
The committee was briefed on the Board’s annual performance for the 2022/23 financial year.
“We have been steadfast that the monitoring function of the DNA Board is critical to ensure that the work of the FSL is improved. The committee’s commitment to this environment was highlighted by various oversight visits to FSLs countrywide,” said Nocks Seabi, the chairperson of the committee.
The committee welcomed the information that as a result of the enhanced monitoring and oversight, the DNA analysis backlog was reduced by approximately 99%. This intervention is necessary to enhance investigations, especially in light for the call by the President to strengthen the fight against gender-based violence. Also, following the intervention of the Board, two complaints received by the Board led to positive resolutions and the DNA samples analysis was conducted.
Furthermore, the committee was assured that the Board has enhanced its monitoring of the supply chain and contract management systems and inventory management. The committee welcomed the information that at the end of the reporting period, all procurement contracts were in place. This will ensure that the laboratories and police stations have adequate inventory to prevent the built up of a DNA analysis backlog due to the unavailability of materials. The committee has requested an update on the finalisation of the contract for DNA isolation kits, which was pending completion of the tender process.
The committee has called for the DNA Board to continuously monitor the process for the onboarding of the Combined DNA Index System project and the training of the South African Police Service on the system. Also, the committee has called for enhanced monitoring of the challenges the Board raised following inspection visits to the four laboratories, including infrastructural challenges, human resources and capacity challenges, IT infrastructure challenges and supply chain management processes. The committee remains of the view that enhanced monitoring will ensure that these challenges are resolved expeditiously.
The committee also welcomed the information that during the 2022/23 financial year, 856,814 profiles were added to the NFDD, as this will enhance current and future investigations.
Despite marked improvements, the committee was concerns that only 39% of buccal sample profiles were completed within the prescribed 30 calendar days, while 46.24% were finalized within 30 calendar days after registration. While the committee appreciates that the remaining buccal profiles were still completed, it is concerned that this was done outside the prescribed period.
Furthermore, the committee is concerned about the non-compliance with legislation requiring that buccal samples must be taken from persons arrested and charged for schedule-8 offences. Out of the 362,686 schedule-8 offenders arrested in the 2022/23 financial year, only 296,574 buccal samples were extracted, translating to 81%. The committee called for 100% compliance with this legislation.
Meanwhile, the committee urged the Minister of Police to expedite the process to appoint an incumbent Judge in the Office of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation to ensure that the office delivers on its mandate. Also, the committee has called for certainty around the enforceability of this judge’s recommendations to the directorate. The committee is concerned that the recommendations can be disregarded as there is uncertainty around whether the judge’s findings are merely recommendations or remedial actions.
Republished courtesy of South Africa Parliament