SAPS Spends R3.8 Million Monthly On Ballistics System Underused Due To Staff Shortages, Madlanga Commission Hears

The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has heard that the South African Police Service (SAPS) is spending an eye-watering R3.8 million every month to maintain a ballistics system vital for firearm investigations.

Brigadier Mishak Mkhabela, SAPS’s head of ballistics, testified on Monday that despite using an internationally recognised system for firearm analysis, the unit cannot fully operate it because of a lack of qualified personnel.

He explained that the system plays a crucial role in linking firearm-related evidence to criminal cases across South Africa. However, with limited staff, its potential remains largely untapped.

Staffing Shortages Leave Thousands Of Cases Backlogged

A significant portion of Mkhabela’s testimony highlighted the severe operational constraints faced by the SAPS ballistics division. He revealed that there are only 42 ballistic analysts across the country, who are battling a backlog of over 29,000 firearms and related evidence awaiting analysis.

Despite the substantial R3.8 million monthly expenditure, Mkhabela admitted the system is not being used to full capacity. Chief evidence leader Advocate Matthew Chaskalson SC questioned: “So you are paying the monthly fee of R3.8 million but you can only use half the capacity of that system?”

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Mkhabela responded, “Unfortunately, that is the reality.”

He further disclosed that four firearms linked to the murder of Vereeniging engineer, Armand Swart, were also connected to 24 other criminal cases, including the high-profile murders of DJ Sumbody and DJ Vintos.

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