Abstract
M.Tech.
It is the responsibility of the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Pretoria to analyse and store (DNA) evidence. This includes evidence received from the South African Police Service (SAPS), evidence in process and DNA stored for future analysis. Evidence is eventually presented and questioned in court and the flow of the evidence from the crime scene to the courts must be validated by ensuring that contamination does not take place at any point during the evidence supply chain, including the collecting, handling and documenting thereof. Rectifying mistakes in this process could be costly to the judicial system, not only in monetary terms, but in time and resources. The main purpose of this study has therefore been to investigate the FSL as a storage facility and to identify the warehousing activities that take place. In order to fulfil this purpose, the study covers the following aspects: the role and importance of the evidence supply chain the storage of evidence at the FSL the warehousing activities and procedures of the FSL, for example:
the tracking and order picking of evidence the storage facilities and systems of the FSL, for example:
the Electronic Management System (EMS) the customer service provided by the FSL conclusions and recommendations regarding the flow of DNA evidence from receipt of evidence up to delivering the findings after analysis of evidence at the FSL.
The study includes detailed case studies of DNA evidence and its uses, as well as information of the storage and warehousing of DNA evidence at the FSL.