DNA testing backlog caused by ‘consumables’ shortage – Cele

POLICE Minister Bheki Cele has blamed a shortage of consumables for DNA analysis and delays in awarding tenders for the massive backlog at the police forensic laboratories.

This takes place as the awarding of a R12.2million tender for the Eastern Cape laboratory hangs in the balance and its funds face the prospect of being forfeited to the National Treasury due to failure to spend it within the stipulated time.

Cele said police were saddled with 172 787 outstanding DNA results as at February, dating as far back as April 2019.

He said the forensic laboratories’ headquarters in Pretoria had a test results backlog of 108 259 DNA cases, the Western Cape had 56647, KwaZulu-Natal had 4537 and the Eastern Cape, 3344.

Cele revealed this when he was responding in writing to parliamentary questions from Freedom Front Plus MP Piet Groenewald, who asked about the backlogs in light of the violence against women and children, especially sexual offences.

Groenewald also asked about the extent of the shortage of reagents, which are reactant chemicals, in each of the four forensic laboratories and the reason for the shortages.

In his written response, Cele said the shortage of consumables was mostly within the DNA analysis processing environment.

“The consumables to do DNA analysis and specific consumables related to the kits are not available,” said Cele.

In the Western Cape, shortages were experienced with quantification kits, amplification kits and direct amplification kits for DNA analysis of buccal samples (cheek swabs).

There was also a shortage of quantification kits and amplification kits for DNA analysis of buccal samples in Pretoria.

“Challenges are also experienced in the procurement of certain PPE, for example gloves, due to price changes and longer lead times.”

Cele also said there were outstanding tenders for consumables and the service, maintenance and calibration of equipment.

There were three related tenders that were still to be awarded and another in the Eastern Cape.

The police minister said the tender for the Eastern Cape laboratory, that was advertised in September 2020, was going through final stages of evaluation before a possible recommendation for an award.

The National Treasury approved R12 250 000 in funding to support and enhance forensic and laboratory services in the 2020/21 financial year.

“The demand processes were not concluded and the funding was not utilised for any other purposes as it was earmarked by the National Treasury for a specific purpose.

“A request to roll over the unspent funding to the 2020-21 financial year may be considered by the SAPS should such a request be in compliance with Treasury regulation,” Cele said in response to separate questions from DA MP Nazley Khan Sharif.

Meanwhile, the minister revealed in his response to DA MP Andrew Whitfield that the property control and exhibit management system (PCEM) has been off-line since June 2020.

“The PCEM is used by the SAPS to track and trace, manage and control cases filed and exhibits ... handed in for analysis and stored at the SAPS forensic science laboratories,” he said.

The contract for the PCEM system, the annual software licence fee and maintenance support terminated in December 2018, June 2016 and June 2018, respectively.

Cele said SAPS and the State Information Technology Agency had enhanced an existing administration system to provide for the management and control of files and exhibits.