President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the commencement of parts of the Criminal Law (Forensic Procedures) Amendment Act, which will give the country’s law enforcement additional tools around DNA collection and usage in capturing and prosecuting criminals.
From 31 January, a suspect arrested and charged with a schedule 8 offence will be required to provide a DNA sample which will be uploaded onto the National Forensics DNA database. Schedule 8 offences include some of the country’s most serious violent crimes – including murder and rape.
“DNA remains the most effective crime-fighting tool. The sampling of schedule 8 arrestees will make a huge impact in solving cold cases, identifying repeat offenders and assisting in successful prosecutions of rapists and murderers,” said spokesperson Elanie van der Walt. These DNA samples will populate the National Forensics DNA Database which will enable law enforcement to link perpetrators to cold cases, identify repeat offenders and get more perpetrators prosecuted.