Community Safety
With regard to the non-servicing of DNA machines used to process specimens specifically related to gender-based violence (GBV) at the SAPS Forensic Sciences Laboratory in Plattekloof:
(1) Whether there has been any changes in the working status of the machines since they were last reported as out of order; if not, why not; if so, what measures are in place to maintain the working status of the machines;
(2) (a) what are the details of the contract management that led to the machines not being serviced since 2019, (b) how often should these machines be serviced, (c) how long can these machines be left without being serviced and (d) how many days has it been since they were declared out of order;
(3) how many matters related to gender-based violence form part of the DNA backlog in the province, as at the latest date for which information is available;
(4) whether there is a time frame available for clearing this backlog; if so, what are the relevant details?
The SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) has the following instrumentation processes in place, which supports the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) analysis:
- The Reference Index (RI) semi-automated lanes, to analyse buccal samples from arrested persons.
- The Crime Index (Cl) semi-automated lanes, to analyse crime samples, such as blood and rape samples, including buccal samples.
- The manual lane, to analyse crime samples, such as blood and rape samples, including buccal samples.
(1) The status of the RI semi-automated lanes, to analyse buccal samples from arrested persons and which are not functional, is still the same. Both the bid contracts, to support the maintenance and calibration of the equipment in the RI semi-automated process, was advertised earlier this year. However, non responsive bids were received and the bids are currently in the process of being re-advertised. It is expected that the bid contract will be finalised, by 31 October 2021, after evaluation and adjudication.In the interim, a request for quotation has been activated and it is expected that the evaluation and finalisation of this process, including the issuing of the purchase order, will be finalised, by 31 August 2021.
The quotation, which is awaiting functional approval , will enable the RI semi automated lane to become fully operational and analyse buccal samples that were collected from arrested persons and charged, in terms of schedule eight offences and permit the processing at full capacity , of 43 200 samples, per month, including overtime production.
(2) (a) The bid contract was cancelled, due to non-responsive bids and is in the process of re-advertisement.
(b) Biannually, for the liquid handlers and easy punch instruments and annually, for the genetic analysers in the RI semi-automated lanes. The genetic analysers are functional and within the next service interval.
(c) In accordance with the manufacturer specifications, the instruments must be maintained and serviced within the specified time intervals, as stipulated in the reply to paragraph (2)(b).
(d) The number of days that various liquid handler instruments in the RI semi automated lanes have been out of service, are reflected in the table below:
Type of Instrument | Service Expiry Date | Number of Days out of Service as at 4 August 2021 |
Liquid Handlers | 2021 -05-26 | 70 |
Liquid Handler s with easy punch | 2020-09-1 7 | 321 |
Liquid Handler with easy punch | 2020-09 -13 | 325 |
Liquid Handler | 2020-09 -11 | 327 |
Liquid Handler | 2018 -03-27 | 1 226 |
Liquid Handler | 2018 -03-13 | 1 240 |
Liquid Handler | 2018 -03-07 | 1 246 |
(3) There is currently a total of 37 647 sexual offence cases, with crime scene exhibits of the ring-fenced backlog cases, which are still outstanding.
(4) The current time frame, to complete the backlog of the sexual offences-related cases, is approximately 18 months and is dependent on the availability of the required tools of trade, to perform the forensic DNA analysis. Nodal points have been established at the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the FSL, to ensure that cases with final remand and court dates for gender-based violence (GBV) related cases, are prioritised and completed by the court dates. The SAPS in also in discussion with the task team, which was established by the President, to consider a Public-Private Partnership initiative, to assist with the DNA analysis of the GBV backlog, in a shortened time frame.
