Bheki Cele DNA backlog

Police Minister Bheki Cele says GBV cases in the country remain at an alarming high rate. PHOTO: GCIS

The South African Police have cleared its historic DNA backlog

Police Minister Bheki Cele says they have reduced the DNA backlog by 99.3%.

Bheki Cele DNA backlog

Police Minister Bheki Cele says GBV cases in the country remain at an alarming high rate. PHOTO: GCIS

The South African Police Service (SAPs) Minister Bheki Cele announced that the police had cleared its DNA backlog from a massive 241 000 to 1 600.

CELE ANNOUNCED THE POLICE DNA BACKLOG IS REDUCED BY 99.3%

This is a massive 99.3% reduction in the country’s DNA backlog figures. 

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“We have completed the building and capacitation of the laboratory in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape, which will drastically relieve pressure from the Western Cape laboratory going forward,” Cele said.

He made this announcement during the release of the quarter crime statistics in Cape Town on 17 February 2023. 

Bheki Cele DNA backlog
Police Minister Bheki Cele announced that the country’s historic DNA backlog had been cleared. Image: AP Photo/Thomas Kienzle

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POLICE ARE ERECTING A NEW DNA LABORATORY IN EASTERN CAPE

Cele said the police and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) project has successfully enrolled 25 599 prioritized GBVF-related court-ready cases.

“Police are using what is at their disposal amid budget cuts and growing population to police a violent society. We thank the President and Treasury for the new approach in prioritizing the massive recruitment in the SAPS and further capacitation of specialised units,” the minister said.

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CELE SAYS THE NEW DNA ACT WILL COME INTO PLAY IN MARCH TO STRENGTHEN POLICE

Bheki Cele DNA backlog
Serial rapist gets seven life terms and 83 direct imprisonments. Image: https://rapecrisis.org.za/

He is optimistic and says the intervention will soon yield positive results in the overall fight against crime. Police are sharpening their responses to Gender-Based Violence and Femicide from an operational and legislative point of view.

The Criminal Law (Forensic Procedures) Amendment Act, also referred to as the (DNA Act) will come into operation on 3 March 2023.

The DNA Act is a crucial weapon in the police’s arsenal of crime-fighting tools against GBVF, specifically regarding identifying offenders.”

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