DNA law to help South Africa fight crime
22 Feb 2014 6:46 AM IST
‘Nobody told me about crime-scene DNA,’ said 37-year-old Mdluli, whose assailant was arrested but later released. ‘From watching TV, I thought they were going to ask for my clothes, but nobody asked.’
Mdluli’s story of failed opportunities to build a criminal case is common in South Africa, which struggles with high rates of rape and murder. In a rare bright spot, a new law will expand a state DNA database used to fight crime by compelling police to take samples from convicted offenders as well as suspects in crimes ranging from homicide to theft, a major undertaking that will test the nation’s troubled police force.
Dozens of countries have legislation similar to the so-called DNA Act, which was signed by President Jacob Zuma on 27 January. The goal is to match more offenders, including many who break the law more than once, with their crimes, exonerate the wrongly accused and crack cold cases. It will take a while to implement nationwide. Some 100,000 police are to receive training in the collection of genetic evidence; education starts in April and is expected to last five years.
While South Africa’s forensic experts are highly skilled, police on the beat have been tarnished by cases of corruption, mismanagement and even violent crimes. Last year, a South African magistrate harshly criticized a police detective for shoddy work in the murder investigation of Oscar Pistorius, the double-amputee athlete who says he killed his girlfriend after mistaking her for an intruder in his home. Pistorius’ murder trial starts on 3 March.
Last week, top South African police officials said they were committed to enforcing the DNA Act during a forensic science conference in Pretoria, the capital.
Activist and lawyer Vanessa Lynch said of skepticism of the police: ‘I just want to put a positive spin, instead of it becoming a mudslinging match against the police.’
Mdluli’s story of failed opportunities to build a criminal case is common in South Africa, which struggles with high rates of rape and murder. In a rare bright spot, a new law will expand a state DNA database used to fight crime by compelling police to take samples from convicted offenders as well as suspects in crimes ranging from homicide to theft, a major undertaking that will test the nation’s troubled police force.
Dozens of countries have legislation similar to the so-called DNA Act, which was signed by President Jacob Zuma on 27 January. The goal is to match more offenders, including many who break the law more than once, with their crimes, exonerate the wrongly accused and crack cold cases. It will take a while to implement nationwide. Some 100,000 police are to receive training in the collection of genetic evidence; education starts in April and is expected to last five years.
While South Africa’s forensic experts are highly skilled, police on the beat have been tarnished by cases of corruption, mismanagement and even violent crimes. Last year, a South African magistrate harshly criticized a police detective for shoddy work in the murder investigation of Oscar Pistorius, the double-amputee athlete who says he killed his girlfriend after mistaking her for an intruder in his home. Pistorius’ murder trial starts on 3 March.
Last week, top South African police officials said they were committed to enforcing the DNA Act during a forensic science conference in Pretoria, the capital.
Activist and lawyer Vanessa Lynch said of skepticism of the police: ‘I just want to put a positive spin, instead of it becoming a mudslinging match against the police.’
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