The Act has been gazetted for general information but is not yet in force. Once operationalised, it will make it mandatory for anyone convicted of a Criminal Procedure Act Schedule 8 offence to allow a buccal sample to be taken from their mouth. This is fundamental to the development of a comprehensive forensic DNA database – in turn necessary for investigating unresolved crimes. Many of these crimes are committed by repeat offenders, according to a memorandum on the objects of the Bill concerned. Schedule 8 can be found on pages 194 and 195 of the amended Criminal Procedure Act, having been added by section 5 of the Criminal Law (Forensic Procedures) Amendment Act of 2013. It includes public violence, murder, rape and various offences under the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences & Related Matters) Amendment Act of 2007.
Published by SA Legal Academy Policy Watch