A total of 2 743 forensic science laboratory reports have been sent to the Department of Public Prosecutions, 143 of which were received by the Western Cape division in a bid to alleviate the backlog of DNA reports.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) told the Weekend Argus they were on a fast-tracking mission for outstanding reports with the assistance of the SAPS’s Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and the deputy minister of justice.
xhe NPA said the backlog had had a huge impact on court cases, with several having been postponed and some withdrawn. It said the backlog had been reduced from 37 647 in July to 27 146 as of September 20.
A case which will now stand in the lengthy queue is that of 23-year-old Sinathi Mgqazana who was murdered in the informal settlement in Zwelihle in September.