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Deputy Minister of Health Gwen Ramokgopa at the Joburg forensic laboratory. Photo: Timothy Bernard

The fight against crime has received a boost.

On Tuesday, the ministries of health, justice and police unveiled new equipment worth R5 million to conduct drunk-driving blood tests and toxicology tests at a revamped Joburg forensic chemistry laboratory.

The department of health spent the money on the purchase of new equipment that would assist in conducting blood and toxicology tests at a much quicker rate.

At present, there is a backlog of 26 000 cases awaiting forensic testing.

Deputy Minister of Health Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, Deputy Minister of Police Maggie Sotyu and Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Andries Nel have set a September deadline to clear the backlog.

The forensic laboratory has already appointed new analysts, and still has one vacant post to fill.

In the past, it was reported that backlogs in laboratories had led to insurance problems and families could not get insurance payouts in case of death and accidents, resulting in children being unable to go to school, and families losing their homes and having to go without food.

It was also reported that in some instances, the wrong people were thrown in jail while the guilty walked free.

“We are very happy to see that the criminal justice system functions effectively. We have equipment that can collect necessary evidence to secure convictions,” said Nel.

Sotyu said they would visit the centre after three months to evaluate progress made in the testing of these samples.

The forensic laboratory’s chief executive, Bongile Lengisi, showed the deputy ministers around the building.

He took the delegation to the lab’s secured areas, where samples are stored in fridges. Access to these fridges is limited to certain people. There is also a point that only security personnel can access.

Thirty-five cameras have been installed to monitor that nobody removes items from the lab.

The deputy ministers also promised that National Prosecuting Authority and police officials would be trained to draft requisitions for sample tests.

“We are going to ensure that investigations officers have a close working relationship with analysts working at the forensic laboratory.

“In the past, police came and just dropped the files for testing. In most cases, analysts are not informed what to test for. They would test for everything. Now, if the sample is for drunken driving, that would be written on the file to avoid having analysts doing all the tests,” Nel said.

Aside from having a team working on old and new cases, they have a team dealing with urgent cases. - The Star