South Africa’s forensic and criminal investigation systems are under immense strain, with growing backlogs in autopsies, toxicology, ballistics and DNA testing leaving thousands of families and cases in uncertainty. The mounting delays are crippling investigations, weakening prosecutions and denying families closure.
Officials have warned that the situation is the most severe it has been in years. The backlog has created a chain reaction throughout the justice system, slowing down cases and increasing frustration among victims and their relatives.
Mounting backlogs and family frustrations
The National Health Laboratory Service reported that as of August 2025, around 40 000 toxicology cases were still awaiting completion. Families of victims, particularly in provinces such as the Western Cape, have spoken about the emotional and financial strain of waiting for autopsy results before being able to hold funerals or finalise insurance and legal matters.
In Cape Town, one mother described being told that she would have to wait longer to bury her son who was recently killed in a shooting in Kensington. The investigation into his death remains open, with no arrests yet made.
The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness has denied that there are backlogs in the province’s forensic pathology services. It stated that all sixteen Forensic Pathology Service facilities are fully operational and that every case is handled with care and dignity.
The department said delays often arise from additional investigations or specialised tests required in complex cases. These processes are essential to ensure the accuracy and credibility of reports used in court proceedings.
It further explained that there is no legislated timeframe for completing autopsies, as each case differs in its complexity. Staffing levels, training and resources are reviewed regularly, and funding remains stable to support operations across the province.
Ballistics and DNA systems in crisis
Beyond pathology, the crisis extends to other critical areas of forensic science. Testimony before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry this week revealed that more than 41 000 firearm related cases are waiting for analysis nationwide, with nearly 30 000 firearms still unprocessed at the Pretoria Forensic Science Laboratory.
The situation is even worse in DNA testing, where over 140 000 cases remain pending as of mid 2025. These delays make it difficult for investigators to connect suspects to crimes, resulting in stalled cases and growing impunity in violent offences.
Civil rights group Action Society has warned that the state run forensic system is no longer functioning effectively. The organisation called for forensic services to be decentralised and for qualified private laboratories to assist with testing under strict oversight.
According to the group, the centralised model has become inefficient and has lost public trust. It believes that partnerships with private laboratories, which already meet international standards, could help clear the backlogs and restore accountability in the justice system.
Detectives overwhelmed
Detectives in the Western Cape are also struggling under heavy workloads, with many handling more than twice the recommended number of cases. A recent parliamentary reply revealed that while the South African Police Service advises a maximum of 60 cases per detective, many precincts are far above that figure.
At Cape Town Central, 70 detectives are working with a 53 percent vacancy rate, while in Mitchells Plain, 110 detectives each manage around 82 cases. In Samora Machel, workloads have reached an alarming 367 cases per detective.
Provincial representatives have warned that detectives are being placed in impossible situations, making it difficult for them to conduct proper investigations and deliver justice to the public.
Calls for reform
The Portfolio Committee on Police has vowed to push for a complete forensic reform. Chairperson Ian Cameron said the committee plans to implement independent audits, skills development programmes and integrity testing for senior officials within the South African Police Service.
He cautioned that without accountability and oversight, the credibility of forensic evidence will remain in doubt and public confidence in the justice system will continue to decline.
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