Action Society would now like to invite public and media members to engage in their live
tweets as the status quo regarding the DNA backlog unravels. A progress report regarding
this issue will be discussed when the National Forensic Oversight Ethics Board on 2 March
2021 appears before the Portfolio Committee on Police.
In an open letter to the chair of the DNA board, Lindi Nkosi-Thomas, Action Society
on Friday requested that they address these matters:
- Feedback on the suggested turnaround strategy addressing the disgraceful
DNA backlog; and - Progress on signing the Convicted Offender DNA amendment bill into law.
According to reliable sources the thousands of victims waiting for justice to prevail will not
have it because existing problems are not resolved. As a civil rights organisation advocating
for the most vulnerable persons in our society, we are concerned that the so-called
turnaround strategy (announced in November) is not implemented to ensure end-to-end
DNA processes are being followed. Not to mention the R250m allocated to prioritise
procurement and the critical consumable issues.
Action Society has already engaged with relevant stakeholders to put forward our proposed
recommendation as to how civil society can play a part in alleviating these issues together
with the government.
“We need to get the wheel of justice turning — especially if we want to address SA’s
discerning gender-based violence (GBV) problem,” says Dr Rineé Pretorius, spokesperson
of Action Society.
For first-hand information and solutions, follow our Twitter account: @ActionSocietySA.
ISSUED BY: Action Society
DATE: 26 February 2021
FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Dr. Rineé Pretorius
Spokesperson: Action Society,
Cell: 0835077782
OR
Daleen Gouws,
PR: Action Society,
Cell: 0812338351
