Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has told Parliament that a consignment of 28 bags seized in a drug operation was moved to the National Forensic Science Laboratory for analysis on 28 May 2026 and is being kept in a secure lock-and-safe facility, amid heightened scrutiny of evidence handling following matters raised before the Madlanga Commission.
Parliamentary query and SAPS response
The confirmation came in response to a written question from ActionSA MP Dereleen James, who sought details about the chain of custody, storage, transportation and forensic processing of the seizure, and whether lessons from the Madlanga Commission had been implemented into SAPS processes.
Cachalia said the consignment had been transported from the crime scene to the forensic laboratory and that its storage complied with the South African Police Service exhibits management rules. He set out the measures SAPS prescribes to protect evidential integrity, including documented chain-of-custody records, secure packaging, controlled transportation and regulated referrals for forensic analysis.
“On 28 May 2026, 28 bags were transported from the crime scene to the Forensic Science Laboratory for forensic testing and analysis,” Cachalia said.
He added that the handling of the consignment was managed in accordance with the applicable policy framework and that, to date, no compromise of the evidence had been identified.
Madlanga Commission legacy
The minister acknowledged that issues exposed at the Madlanga Commission concerning crime scene and exhibit management had been noted and said SAPS continued to enforce and strengthen adherence to Standing Orders, National Instructions and other policies governing crime scene procedures and exhibit handling.
Measures cited by Cachalia include ongoing training and guidance for investigating officers on their responsibilities around evidence preservation and exhibit management. He said SAPS had implemented prescribed procedures designed to maintain the integrity of material destined for forensic testing.
- Seizure moved to laboratory: 28 May 2026 — 28 bags transported from the scene to the Forensic Science Laboratory.
- Storage: Held in a secure lock-and-safe facility within the laboratory under SAPS Exhibit Management Policy.
- Measures in place: Documented chain-of-custody, secure packaging, controlled transport, regulated forensic referral procedures and officer training.
What was not disclosed
The minister’s reply did not provide granular detail about the nature of the seized material, the location of the operation, or the progress and expected timeline for forensic analysis. Nor did it specify whether any independent oversight or audit of the chain-of-custody had been instituted in this matter.
Parliamentary scrutiny of evidence handling intensified after testimony before the Madlanga Commission raised concerns about crime scene management and the preservation of exhibits in certain high-profile investigations. Those findings prompted calls from lawmakers and legal practitioners for tighter controls and more transparent record-keeping across the criminal justice system.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 28 May 2026 | 28 seized bags transported to Forensic Science Laboratory |
While Cachalia asserted compliance with the policy framework and said no compromise of evidence had been identified, the disclosure is likely to prompt further questions from opposition MPs about how SAPS is embedding the Madlanga Commission’s lessons into day-to-day operations, and whether current practices are sufficient to withstand legal challenge during prosecutions.
The matter remains subject to forensic analysis and any subsequent criminal-process steps will depend on the outcome of those tests and the integrity of the documented chain of custody.
