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Confiscated unlicensed firearms.
Security analyst Professor Jacob Mofokeng says testimony at the Madlanga Commission has exposed deep structural problems in the SAPS forensic lab.
A senior forensic analyst from the police, Captain Laurance Makgotloe told the commission earlier Monday that inaccuracies in the ballistic report he authored in the Armand Swart murder case were errors and not intentional attempts to sabotage the case.
Mofokeng says accountability and improved oversight are urgently needed to restore public trust in the system.
He warned that high workloads and clerical duties increase errors, meaning many criminal cases may go unresolved.
“So, it means that most of criminals, they smile out of prison because of probably cases that will be withdrawn out of court, but as well as those that will be indicating that they don’t have probable convictions. And, we are aware of many cases of the use of firearms as well as how these people, they are so randomly killing and using a lot of ammunition at the crime scene, with the knowledge that whenever these cases are presented, they cannot be linked at forensics,” says Mofokeng.
Madlanga Commission | SAPS ballistic expert testifies: Prof Jacob Mofokeng shares insights:
Makgotloe’s testimony was in response to evidence last year from Witness B, one of the investigators in the matter, who alleged that a forensic report was manipulated to derail the case that implicated alleged cartel member, Katiso “KT” Molefe.
Makgotloe has poured cold water on the claim that he deliberately manipulated the ballistics report into the murder of Vereeniging engineer, Armand Swart. He testified that the report contained typing errors, but it was not aimed at negatively impacting the case.
“I can safely say those were typing errors and those typing errors were supposed to be picked up at the reviewing process, but were not picked up at the reviewing process. I cannot indicate as to for what reason but I can say it amounts to work pressure as well,” he says.
Evidence leader Adv Teboho Mosikili put it to Captain Makgotloe that the errors made on the report risked the potential success of the investigation.
“So, I am saying to you, the document that you handed as a report, the outcome of the work you are showing us that you did, did not give a positive link. That is why there was a need for you to rectify it, to amend it as it were. That is a simple proposition,” argued Mosikili.
“Yes, I accept that, commissioners,” conceded Makgotloe.
Hearings will continue on Tuesday with a new witness.
Madlanga Commission | SAPS senior forensic analyst testifies:
