MINISTER MTHETHWA COMMENDS DECREASE IN FORENSICS BACKLOGS
Proactive partnership with international experts leads to 39% decrease in ballistics
CAPE TOWN - 12 October 2010. The Ministry of Police is walking-the-talk when it comes to reducing the backlog of the country's Forensic Science Laboratories (FSLs). The total entries on hand decreased with 19,25% between the 1st of April 2009 and the 31st of March 2010. The backlog in ballistics decreased by 39%, in the biology section there was a 33% decrease and a 21% decrease in questioned documents.
Replying to a Parliamentary question today the Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa commended the FSL team for its turnaround strategy in reducing these backlogs, which for a long period have hampered and caused delays in the successful convictions of various criminal cases. "We are pleased with this progress while also mindful that the current functioning of the FSL is far from ideal. We shall continue to strive to ensure that we transform the FSL into a world-class unit," stated the Minister.
The total number of entries [which includes both the entries carried over from the previous financial year as well as newly received entries] on hand per section, during the 2009/2010 financial year are as follows:
|
MONTH |
Ballistics |
Biology |
Chemistry |
Questioned Documents |
Scientific Analysis |
|
April 2009 |
11 950 |
24 755 |
17 169 |
2 383 |
701 |
|
May 2009 |
16 576 |
24 391 |
19 146 |
2 319 |
728 |
|
June 2009 |
21 608 |
24 253 |
19 252 |
2 717 |
691 |
|
July 2009 |
23 904 |
25 122 |
18 708 |
2 914 |
695 |
|
Aug 2009 |
24 597 |
25 583 |
19 149 |
1 427 |
683 |
|
Sept 2009 |
25 792 |
25 547 |
19 934 |
1 416 |
637 |
|
Oct 2009 |
25 468 |
25 233 |
21 259 |
1 689 |
585 |
|
Nov 2009 |
18 608 |
23 479 |
19 960 |
1 763 |
598 |
|
Dec 2009 |
14 937 |
23 297 |
19 888 |
2 558 |
711 |
|
Jan 2010 |
10 738 |
22 755 |
20 938 |
1 767 |
749 |
|
Feb 2010 |
7 685 |
19 555 |
20 682 |
1 668 |
646 |
|
March 2010 |
7 230 |
16 598 |
21 251 |
1 880 |
701 |
The average processing time is calculated by dividing the total number of entries finalized by the total number of days from the date of receipt until the finalization date. The only environment to have recorded an increase in the 2009/2010 financial year is the chemistry section, with a 24% increase in total entries on hand.
"As the Ministry, through the Secretariat, we have been working with international experts who are assisting us with identifying the causes of these backlogs and develop remedial steps that need to be taken to resolving them. During 2009/2010, three exhibits were reported missing, which calculates to 0,005% of the average number of exhibits on hand per month during the same period. This is a 50% decrease in comparison to the 2008/2009 financial year," added Minister Mthethwa.
Some of the processes that were embarked upon to eradicate backlogs and increase turn-around times for the analysis of exhibits include the capacitating of the environment in respect of human resources, skills [through employee development], upgrading of equipment and an enhancement of analysis processes. The Minister further commended the National Commissioner of Police, General Bheki Cele for his swift appointment of the current head of FSL, Lieutenant General Khomotso Phahlane following the resignation of the former head, Lieutenant General Piet Du Toit.
In February this year, Minister Mthethwa announced that the FSLs were to undergo major overhauls to ensure they can effectively deal with the huge amounts of samples that were sent for testing. He then called for a prioritization of this matter, following negative reports of existing backlogs of criminal case samples at the various laboratories across the country.
Statement issued by Zweli Mnisi, Spokesperson to the Minister of Police, October 12 2010
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