Important SAPS forensics facility saved from total collapse

[Jan]

Important South African Police facility saved from complete collapse

The South African Police Service Forensic Science Laboratory in KwaZulu-Natal has an upgraded home, which should improve the analysis of forensic material.

Ian Cameron, the National Assembly Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, shared details in an online post about this development.

 

[Sapphiron]

new buildings do little to address the forensic backlogs, if the actual problem is management.

 

[Justanotherguybythesea]

Yes new building, same staff, same attitude, and same corruption, just now with a shiny new paint coat, soon to be a dilapidated and derelict as the old building.

 

[thestaggy]

new buildings do little to address the forensic backlogs, if the actual problem is management.

It appears that a new building may actually go a long way to addressing the backlog.

Cameron described it as a dereliction of duty, adding that the failures around the old KwaZulu-Natal Laboratory were not unforeseeable.

“The failures were repetitive, known and left unresolved for years. Flooding kept happening, and discussions dragged on without resolution,” he said.

He added that specialised equipment remained at risk and evidence had to be transported to other centres.

“Skilled forensic personnel were left in circumstances where they could not properly do the work they are trained to do,” he said.

There is an obvious management issue if infrastructure problems were known and yet remained unaddressed, but new facilities will almost certainly make a difference.