Pretoria - The new National Forensic Oversight and Ethics Board, also known as the DNA board, has hit the ground running and has agreed to conduct a field trip to the South African Police Service National Forensics Science Laboratory within the next four weeks.
This emerged during the board’s inaugural meeting on Monday.
During the meeting, the board - under the direction of Justice Yvonne Mokgoro - also agreed to develop a strategic plan for the execution of its functions and also commence processes to establish an administrative secretariat.
The plan will be informed by the SAPS implementation plan on the Act as well as an independent audit on the current environment, including a gaps analysis.
One of the primary tasks of the board is to provide oversight over the processes relating to the collection, retention, storage, destruction and disposal of forensic DNA samples.
Other tasks include the retention and removal of forensic DNA profiles, any breach in respect of taking, transporting, analysis, storing, use and communication of forensic DNA samples and forensic DNA profiles, including security breaches; and security and quality management systems.
The DNA board was established in terms of s15V of the Criminal Law (Forensic Procedures) Amendment Act 37 of 2013.
Among others, the Act’s functions are to receive and assess complaints about alleged violations relating to the abuse of DNA samples and forensic DNA profiles and/or security breaches, make proposals on the improvement of practices regarding the overall operations of the National Forensic DNA Database (NFDD) and the ethical, legal and social implications of the use of forensic DNA profiles. - SAnews.gov.za
