Years of backlogged DNA evidence threatens to derail thousands of criminal cases in KZN.

The South African Police Service (Saps) Forensic Laboratories (FSL) has more than 140 000 backlogged DNA cases for the 2024/2025 financial year. KZN’s Amanzimtoti Forensic Science Laboratory, which was the largest and busiest in SA, has been repeatedly damaged by floods between 2016 to 2025.

The laboratory dealt with forensic evidence and DNA from rape, robberies, murder and other serious crimes. Hundreds of drug cases fell apart, and blood alcohol samples were contaminated after the 2022 floods wreaked havoc.

Umhlali Saps station commander Colonel Fikile Xulu said the backlogs – as well as the province not having a forensic laboratory – is stalling criminal procedures.

“It takes to time to get to court,” she said. “Drugs and other evidence have to be tested. This is time-consuming because the Saps laboratory in Toti was damaged by flooding, and the evidence must now be sent to Cape Town and Pretoria.”

The chairperson of the parliamentary portfolio committee on police, Ian Cameron (DA), said the backlog is due to systemic issues, including underfunding, poor planning and deficient support and storage systems, rather than a shortage of facilities.

“Critical forensic instruments have been non-operational since 2020 because of expired maintenance contracts, highlighting severe mismanagement within the FSL,” said Cameron.

“Inadequate storage has led to case files being stored in corridors and exhibits falling off shelves in overcrowded safe rooms, posing serious health and safety risks for staff.”

Director of KwaDukuza Child Welfare, Karnegie Govender, highlighted the impact on their organisation, as they work with children who have experienced sexual abuse.

“Cases keep getting remanded, causing emotional trauma for the children. They are repeatedly asked to recall past events, which can be distressing. Additionally, if a child is asked about an incident that happened two years ago, they may struggle to remember details as clearly as they would if it were recent,” she said.

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