POLICE Minister Bheki Cele is adamant that the SAPS forensic services has the capacity to carry the backlogs of convicted Schedule 8 prisoners who will soon have their DNA samples taken in line with the proposed legislation.
Cele said they were progressing well in clearing backlogs in the SAPS forensic laboratories.
“The laboratories in Cape Town and Pretoria have been already capacitated,” he said before listing various interventions at the facilities.
These included ensuring that there is additional human resources and that machines and overtime payment is provided for.
“We are really pushing,” Cele said.
He made the statement yesterday while he was responding to MPs when the Civilian Secretariat for Police briefed the police portfolio committee on the Criminal Law (Forensic Procedures) Amendment Bill, which is aimed at taking DNA samples from all persons convicted under Schedule 8 offences.
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