Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Nicholas Gotsell MP.
– Shortages of DNA kits critical for criminal investigations
– Khayelitsha SAPS has 12 vehicles in for repairs
– Western Cape SAPS confirms DA call for expansion of investigation powers
The DA continues to expose a growing collapse of forensic support capacity within the South African Police Service in the Western Cape. This time, oversight inspections revealed severe shortages of “DB-kits” – buccal swab DNA kits critical for criminal investigations such as murder, rape and firearm-related crimes – at several police stations across Cape Town.
Yesterday, the DA conducted an oversight visit to the Khayelitsha SAPS station following a triple murder in Site B over the weekend. Despite a media statement by Western Cape SAPS, assuring the community of their presence and that investigators would pursue all available leads, the DA found:
– that a total of 12 of the station’s visible policing vehicles were in various SAPS garages for repairs; and
– the station had no kits to collects DNA from suspects in the event that they were to make any arrests.
Earlier inspections found no DNA kits were found at stations including Nyanga, Atlantis, Philippi East, Maitland and Somerset West. Stations such as Cape Town Central and Manenberg reportedly had only very limited stock remaining.
On Friday, officers at multiple stations further confirmed that there is reportedly no stock available at provincial level either.
These kits are essential for collecting reference DNA samples from suspects and other persons connected to investigations. Without them, DNA evidence recovered from firearms, murder scenes, gang shootings, rapists and other forensic exhibits cannot properly be compared or processed. This will lead to a delay in investigating schedule 8 criminal cases, weakened prosecutions and dangerous criminals remaining on the streets.
This crisis comes at the exact moment that Western Cape Provincial Commissioner Lt Gen Thembisile Patekile has now publicly acknowledged that capable local governments such as the City of Cape Town should be granted greater powers to assist in investigating gang-related crime.
While this admission will be welcomed by communities who have long supported devolved policing powers, it is also a devastating acknowledgment of the failures of SAPS itself.
The irony is stark: while the City continues investing heavily into law enforcement capacity, technology and anti-gang operations, SAPS cannot even ensure the availability of basic forensic consumables required by legislation meant to strengthen DNA investigations.
The DA has consistently argued that capable governments must be empowered to protect residents where national government is failing. The shortage of DB kits now provides yet another example of why communities are losing confidence in SAPS’ ability to investigate and prosecute serious violent crime effectively.
The DA will escalate this matter through Parliament and demand urgent answers regarding:
– provincial and national stock levels of DB kits;
– how long stations have been without supply;
– how many investigations have been prejudiced;
– and who must be held accountable for this latest forensic collapse.
The people of the Western Cape deserve a police service capable of investigating crime and the City of Cape Town and Western Cape Government is ready to offer that support.