Across South Africa, thousands of families are waiting—not just for answers, but for justice. A
growing backlog in critical forensic processes, from autopsies and toxicology reports to ballistics and DNA testing, is causing severe delays in criminal investigations and court proceedings. At the centre of this crisis are institutions like the South African Police Service and the National Forensic Science
Laboratories, where capacity constraints, resource shortages, and systemic inefficiencies are slowing
down the delivery of crucial evidence. These delays don’t just affect investigations—they stall prosecutions, weaken cases, and in some instances, allow suspects to walk free. But beyond the
legal implications, there is a deeper human cost. Families are left in limbo, unable to bury loved ones,
finalise estates, or find closure. Tonight, we ask: what is causing this forensic backlog—and who is being held accountable for a system that is failing both victims and justice?