It has been nine months since the tragic deaths of two siblings in Nelson Mandela Bay sent shockwaves through the community.
The 12-year-old Tammy Ingram and her 17-year-old brother Matthew made national headlines when they inhaled poison while asleep in their home in Gqeberha.
The entire family, including their parents Stanton and Seline, was admitted to hospital.
Tragically, Tammy was the first to die followed a few days later by Matthew who was in an induced coma at the Greenacres hospital.
An inquest docket into the matter is still not closed as toxicology results from a state laboratory have not yet been released.
Police Spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu confirmed to Algoa FM News that the report was still outstanding.
The case can only then be handed over to the prosecution so that they can decide whether or not someone is to blame for the incident and if criminal charges can be laid once those toxicology reports are made available.
This is just one of 280 291 backlogged cases at the SAPS forensic laboratories in the country.
Minister of Police Bheki Cele revealed that 36 626 are DNA related and 82 000 of the backlogged cases were related to gender-based violence and femicide meaning perpetrators of these violent crimes cannot be prosecuted in this present day without this crucial evidence.
According to SAPS statistics, rape cases were standing at 42 289 for 2019/2020 with femicide numbers in the country being five times higher than the global average.
StatsSA revealed that violence committed by intimate partners was the highest in the Eastern Cape last year.
Parliament led a debate of national importance on the ongoing DNA backlog crises on Tuesday.
The DA's Andrew Whitfield, who introduced the topic to the National Assembly, said Minister Cele was complicit as there has been a 3000 % increase in the DNA backlog under his watch.
Whitfield said since Cele took over as the minister of police, the DNA backlog went up from 7000 in 2017/2018 to over 225 000 in 2021.
"Now, this debate today is not about politics, but it is about executive accountability and because the Minister has failed so spectacularly to resolve a crisis which he has caused, the buck must stop with the President.”
Whitfield added that between January and February this year not a single DNA sample was processed due to a lack of consumables.
Minister Cele said no one had reported that information to him when he was made aware of this crises. He also apologised to all victims of crime assuring families that the problem was being addressed.
He said that due to a lack of funding, no procurement could be facilitated during the 2019/2020 financial year, and as a result, the core function of the Forensic Science Laboratories was at a standstill until August of the 2020/2012 financial year.
He also said that from June last year, there was no electronic track and trace functionality available due to the discontinuation of the system by the service provider meaning that this function had to be done manually.
He, however, assured Parliament that work was being done to correct this, adding that R250 million had been allocated towards responding to challenges in the laboratories.
Minister Cele said there would collaboratively be work between SAPS, the Department of Justice and the National Prosecuting Authority.
He said while the department was not out of the woods yet it was on the path towards improvement.
"We are fully aware of the significance and severe impact the delays have caused. However, we remain confident in our intervention measures that are aimed at regaining public confidence and equally restore organisational reputation and image."
