30 August 2006
The Divisional Commissioner, Criminal Record and Forensic Science Services,
South African Police Service, Divisional Commissioner Piet du Toit has noted
with concern the reservations echoed in the media regarding the availing of DNA
results in a murder case in which Mr Tshabalala is the suspect, and the
negative impact which this can have on the outcome of the case.
This office wishes to shed light about certain facts surrounding the
capabilities of the Forensic Science Laboratory and DNA, as well as factors
which played a role in the delay of the said case.
The Biology Unit of the Forensic Science Laboratory has personnel strength
of 200 members countrywide. Of these members, 121 are directly involved in the
process of gathering evidential material and DNA analysis. The other members
are involved in biology-related functions such as attending scenes of crime.
The statement by Senior Superintended Gouws that she has 20 members under her
command, only referred to her subsection, which is specifically dealing with a
part of the analytic process.
It takes some time from receiving samples to analysing such samples to the
eventual conclusive results. In some cases the samples are intact and the
analysis can be commenced with immediately; in others there are hampering
factors such as exposure to weather conditions which will necessarily cause a
delay. It must also be noted that the nature of samples and the analysis to be
done differs from case to case. With regard to the late Marike de Klerk�s case,
for example the first sample was received on 10 December 2001 followed by other
samples on 12, 13 and 24 December 2001 but the report was only available on 21
February 2002 which is about two-and-a half months. Clearly racial
discrimination is out of question.
The Divisional Commissioner: Criminal Record and Forensic Science Services
further wishes to emphasise that the police management is committed to staffing
the Forensic Unit sufficiently. To this end recruitment of personnel is pursued
on an on-going basis; for example, from July 2005 until June 2006, a total of
147 additional personnel had been appointed to the Forensic Science Laboratory
countrywide. It must also be appreciated that personnel join and leave the
police service as dictated by circumstances and for this reason recruitment
will have to be embarked on a continuous basis.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) does render assistance to member
countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) on request, but
this does not negatively impact on the rendering of high quality services to
our local publics.
Enquiries:
Phuti Setati
Section Head: Media Relations
Communication and Liaison Services
Tel: (012) 393 5490/1
Fax: (012) 393 5525/27
Cell: 082 778 4312
E-mail: mediarelations@saps.org
Issued by: South African Police Service
30 August 2006
