Gwarube concerned that DNA backlogs deny justice to victims of crime


The streets of Gugulethu in Cape Town saw a march by some Democratic Alliance (DA) members as part of the organisation’s Women’s Day commemoration.

DA supporters who joined the march said that, although it is an important day to honour the women of this country, the fight for justice for victims of gender-based violence (GBV) is still at the top of the party’s agenda.

One of the party’s leaders and the Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, raised the issue of the DNA backlog at SAPS, saying this denies justice for victims around the country.

“It has been a sombre month indeed and unfortunately, millions of South African women still feel unsafe. Therefore, today we are here to commemorate the women of 1956, but also to say that back then we were fighting for a different kind of injustice; we too are fighting for a different kind of injustice. There is a backlog for DNA results with over 40 000 cases of women who have been raped and  murdered.”