The Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, has been caught lying about the DNA backlog yet again, just as Action Society predicted.
In his answer to a parliamentary question about the DNA backlog state, the minister confirmed that the total current national DNA case entries stood at 55 891 at the end of May. Yet, during the Budget Vote on 23 May 2023, he proudly announced the backlog stands at 636.
“Minister Bheki Cele keeps thinking that South Africans are stupid and cannot see when he is going about the truth creatively,” said Ian Cameron, the Director of Community Safety at Action Society. “We have been saying for years now that he chooses to give the impression of successfully eliminating the DNA backlog by only referring to the historical ringfenced numbers. But he conveniently leaves out the current backlog.”
In April 2021, the historical ringfenced backlog stood at 241 152. It took more than two years to bring that number down to 548. In the meantime, the new DNA cases exceeding the deadline for processing increased to 55 891, with an influx of around 900 entries registered daily.
“The SAPS, specifically the National Forensic Science Laboratories, is not functioning properly, and it can be directly linked to Minister Cele’s inability to run the Police Ministry satisfactorily,” said Cameron. “He is the one who decided to shut down the DNA evidence exhibit (PCEM) & FSP system without any contingency plan. We are still struggling with those consequences.
“This man is a failure and a poser with no sympathy for the thousands upon thousands of victims of crime in a country ravaged by a crime mafia. In fact, he is the Don of that mafia. Resign Bheki Cele and rid us of your lies.”
Support Action Society in getting rid of Bheki Cele once and for all by signing our petition here.
