The National Forensic Oversight and Ethics Board – known as the DNA Board – could not satisfactorily answer where the DNA backlog for South Africa stands during the feedback session on its Annual Report 2021/22 to the Police Committee today.
A new board was appointed in March last year and was urged to sort out the National Forensic Science Laboratories (NFSL), which led to, among other problems, an immense DNA backlog. At the time of the appointment, the backlog stood at over 172 000 cases.
“The board was specifically appointed to sort out the DNA backlog and forensic laboratories. It is very clear that they have not succeeded in this mandate, as they cannot even answer the most basic of questions regarding their scope of work,” said Kaylynn Palm, Action Centre coordinator at Action Society. “We want to reiterate that the board should not be allowed to continue sitting around while nothing gets done.”
Read more here: https://actionsociety.co.za/dna-board-unable-to-answer-questions-about-dna-backlog-action-society-wants-them-gone/