Civil rights organisation Action Society has raised concern over forensic delays in the murder investigation of 89-year-old Ellen Malan, who was killed in her Tafelsig, Mitchell’s Plain, home more than a year ago. Malan was found tied up and murdered in September 2024. Despite suspects being identified, forensic results remain outstanding, leaving the case stalled.
PHOTO - Action Society: Ellen MalanAction Society says it has submitted formal complaints to
the South African National Forensic Oversight and Ethics Board and the
Mitchells Plain SAPS station commander, demanding urgent intervention.
In its letter to the DNA Board, Action Society has asked
the Complaints and Investigation Sub-Committee to probe why fingerprint results
submitted to the Plattekloof laboratory remain outstanding, and why a DNA
retake was requested from both suspects and family members without any
explanation. The complaint further asks the Board to investigate compliance
with the DNA Act and Regulations, and to advise on measures to prevent such
prolonged delays.
In a separate letter
to Mitchells Plain’s Station Commander, Action Society demanded a clear update
on forensic processes, confirmation of investigative steps taken since the last
feedback, and the appointment of a dedicated contact person for the family.
“These endless
delays are an insult to Ellen’s memory and a second trauma to her family. When
fingerprint results sit unprocessed for over a year and DNA samples are
mishandled or retaken without explanation, it is no longer a backlog, it is a
collapse. Families are left in limbo, criminals are left free, and SAPS shields
itself from accountability instead of seeking solutions,” said Kaylynn Palm,
Head of Action Society’s Action Centre in the Western Cape.
‘’Ellen’s case is one of tens of thousands of cases trapped
in South Africa’s DNA backlog. Action Society maintains that urgent
public-private partnerships with private forensic laboratories and universities
could resolve the crisis, but SAPS continues to resist such cooperation,’’ she
added.
Done By: Mitchum George
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