Photo for illustration only. (Photo: Mufid Majnun/Unsplash)
The ongoing backlog in processing DNA samples in criminal cases has not only hampered the search for the so-called Facebook rapist and murderer, Thabo Besterdid not slow down, but also in the process abandoned his victims, says the pressure group Action Society.
Bester escaped from a maximum security prison in Bloemfontein last year and did not burn to death as the authorities previously claimed.
It took ten months to process the DNA from the body found in Bester’s cell.
Ian Cameron, director of community safety at Action Society, says that if the DNA from the charred body in Bester’s cell had been processed more quickly, it would have long since come to light that Bester is a fugitive.
“If the Department of Correctional Services and the police had realized immediately through the DNA results that the body did not belong to Bester, they could have immediately started the search for him,” he says.
“This delay left his victims vulnerable.”
Photos of a man who looks a lot like Bester that recently surfaced have left many South Africans wondering if Bester is now living in luxury, while he may be continuing his criminal activities.
There have been several escapes from maximum security prisons in recent years, including the escape of seven prisoners from Makhanda Prison in Grahamstown. In the 2020-21 financial year, a total of 117 prisoners escaped, while in the latest financial year, 22 prisoners escaped.
“Most of these escapees repeat their crimes, but due to the backlog in DNA testing, it will take months, if not years, to connect them to crimes they committed after their escape,” says Cameron.
“What message does this send to victims of these crimes?”
Police Minister Bheki Cele said in an interview with SABC on Thursday that the backlog is remarkably less than before. The backlog has reportedly reduced from 240,000 outstanding DNA tests to 600.
However, Cameron says that this backlog has not been eliminated to the extent that “the police minister and the presidency would have us believe”.
“The backlog that has apparently been processed only refers to the backlog between May 2021 and August 2021. Therefore, it does not take into account the new DNA samples registered after that date,” says Cameron.
“Furthermore, the delay in activating the Convicted Offenders Bill has a direct impact on crime in the country and only escalates crime further.”
The bill in question makes it mandatory for convicted criminals of schedule 8 offenses to provide DNA samples. However, it took seven years – from 2017 to 2021 – to get the amendment bill submitted to parliament.
The president finally signed the bill into law in December last year, but it only came into force in March this year.
“Prior to that date, no DNA samples were taken from convicted criminals, which means there is no system to link them to past crimes.”
Action Society is working to determine how many DNA samples have been taken from convicted schedule 8 criminals since the bill came into force.
