One of the challenges faced in the fight for justice is the delay in getting things like specimen from crime scenes processed by laboratories in South Africa.
Today, the South African Police Service is unveiling DNA Expansion Project Forensic Science Laboratory in Gqeberha.
Brigadier Athlenda Mathe says the SAPS has four forensic laboratories around the country and they process crime exhibits.
“The first forensic services unit within the country was established within the South African Police Service in Silverton, Pretoria. Since then, the lab has been rendering forensic services nationally for all our 1156 police stations across the country.”
The Pretoria lab works on the following disciplines:
Ballistics – experts conduct firearm analysis.
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Biology – experts confirm biological fluids collected from crime scenes.
Chemistry – experts specialise in drug analysis, fire investigation and poison analysis.
Question document – experts authenticate documents and identify fraudulent documents.
Scientific analysis – experts analyse precious metals like gold, animal DNA and image analysis.
Victim identification – experts confirm family relations from mass disasters.
“Over and above the services for the country, the Pretoria lab also provides drug and DNA analysis, and ballistic services to SADC countries Lesotho, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. In addition, the Mauritius Police Force have for a number of years acquired the services of this lab until they were able to work independently.
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“The Eastern Cape lab in Gqeberha has been in existence since 1996 and has been rendering all the disciplines with the exception to the biology section.
“With this new and enhanced capacity in the Eastern Cape Forensics Science Laboratory, the SAPS guarantees quicker turnaround times especially in relation to the investigation of Gender Based Violence Femicide,” she says.
The upgraded facility has been functional since February and has already processed 6000 DNA samples.”
The event was attended by President Cyril Ramaphosa, Police minister Bheki Cele and Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane.
“The objective of this expansion is therefore to enhance and improve on service delivery by bringing services closer to the people of this province, but most importantly to also ensure that cases are processed timeously to ensure successful convictions. With this new and enhanced capacity in the Eastern Cape Forensic Science Laboratory, the SAPS guarantees quicker turnaround times especially in relation to the investigation of Gender Based Violence and Femicide."
