Police forensic-science laboratories have a backlog of 6 086 samples, Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula said on Monday.
Crime investigating officers have to wait an average of 54 days for results of samples sent in.
In written reply to a question by the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Dianne Kohler-Barnard, he said the largest backlog was in the Western Cape’s chemistry laboratory, where 3 806 samples were awaiting processing on June 4.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) headquarters chemistry lab had a backlog of 1 057 samples, the SAPS headquarters biology laboratory 560 and the Western Cape biology laboratory 482.
There were no backlogs at all in any of the explosives and ballistics laboratories around the country.
Investigating officers could expect to wait an average of 102 days for the results from the biology laboratories, 56 days from chemistry, 40 from ballistics and 35 days for questioned documents or scientific analysis.
The laboratories had 981 funded posts and only 15 vacancies as at May 31.
Nqakula said the funded posts for the medium-term expenditure framework up until 2010 for the laboratories were currently under consideration and indications were that a substantial growth in the number of posts could be expected.
Commenting on the situation on Monday, Kohler-Barnard said the high number of samples in the backlog as well as the long waiting periods were a cause for concern.
”It is hoped that the drive to recruit new personnel will improve matters,” she said. — Sapa