World Class Forensic Lab for the Province

Eastern Cape Forensic Laboratory has the latest advanced technology than any other laboratory of its kind in South Africa!

“Madam Speaker, in response to the scourge of Gender Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), in the previous SOPA, we pronounced on the establishment of the Provincial Forensic Laboratory. We are pleased to announce that the Forensic laboratory is now operational which will improve our ability to resolve cases of GBVF.” Said Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane during the State of the Province Address (SoPA).

The Premier, led by MEC for Community Safety Xolile Nqatha, visited the laboratory to witness the promise to the people fulfilled. This is good news for the province and will see speedy processing of GBVF and other crimes’ cases. The wheels of justice will definitely turn faster with this kind of technology!

Before, material that needed examination from acts of crime such as DNA and ballistic tests, would be sent to the Western Cape for this purpose. This prolonged the period of concluding cases of crime as samples of items would be packaged, sent to and back from Western Cape laboratory before they could be presented as exhibits and evidence of crime committed in GBVF, murder, burglary, and other crimes.

The highly advanced technology will not only determine the DNA of an individual or fingerprints found on a firearm. But will also go to the extent of determining the most unique elements of individuals such as gender. Because of this advanced technology, the laboratory will serve other places bordering the province where the technology of those places cannot perform some tests. This elevates its status to a regional laboratory.