In a significant move to address forensic backlogs, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has announced that Mpumalanga is the next province earmarked to receive its own dedicated DNA testing laboratory. The announcement was made by National Deputy Commissioner for Policing, Tebello Mosikili, during the SAPS 2025 Excellence Awards held in Mbombela on Tuesday.
The prestigious awards ceremony, which saw police officers swap uniforms for formal attire, is designed to honour outstanding achievements and dedication in the fight against crime.
Deputy Commissioner Mosikili underscored the critical importance of expanding forensic capacity. She explained that establishing laboratories in different provinces is key to easing backlogs, particularly in sexual offence cases.
“Mpumalanga is one of the earmarked provinces to have their own lab,” stated Mosikili. “I think we are in an advanced stage as the department to make sure that each province does have its own lab.”
She contrasted the current situation with past challenges, recalling, “Back in the days… we had to drive from Free State and everywhere in the country to bring exhibits to Pretoria. But today we can talk of four active labs, and Mpumalanga is the next to come.”
The event also served as a platform to address public trust in law enforcement. Speaking on behalf of the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, a spokesperson stated that the province is actively working to change the negative narrative of police corruption.
“There was a narrative out there to say police are corrupt. So we wanted to prove that indeed there are those who are corrupt within SAPS because these are human beings that you are working with,” the spokesperson said. “So we have been able, so far, to identify them.”
The official revealed that disciplinary actions are underway, noting, “We have surpassed the number of four; we are beyond, around 13, 14 that are suspended. They are going to face the DC (disciplinary committees) and also other job processes.”
The awards ceremony recognized police excellence across various units, including team operations. One awarded officer, deployed in Bushbuckridge for Operation Chanela, praised his colleagues, saying, “The team that I was working with, they were positive. They were waking up at any time when there’s anything that needs to be attended to. We were very successful.”
The officer expressed gratitude for the recognition, calling it a “miracle” and a motivation to work harder.
SAPS management stated that the awards are a direct way to thank and further encourage officers to excel in their duties, even as the service works to bolster its forensic capabilities and integrity nationwide.