The pathetic cry 'Who is my father?' has been asked time and again the world over. Discovery of paternity, linked as it is with the processes - legal and scientific - of establishing the alleged father's relationship on a balance of probabilities is a very real problem in the field of family law in South Africa. Blood tests have proved to be one aid in its solution. However, the application of such tests carry with them their own specific difficulties, most notable from the point of view of the lawyer is the extent of the authority of the court to order such tests, the interpretation of the test results and the role and emphasis that should be given to the results of the blood tests in the final determination of each case. Lawyers have to be wary and avoid falling into the trap of the layman who has the distinct tendency to accept unquestionably anything backed by scientific authority. / Thesis (LL.M.)-University of Durban-Westville, Durban, 1994.

Ph.D. (Zoology) / Scale insects, plant pests of quarantine importance, with specialised anatomy and unresolved phylogenetic relationships, are responsible for major economic losses to South Africa and its trading partners. These losses may reach critical levels if the pests are not timely identified and controlled. They are currently identified based on published keys of adult females, a process that takes three days to two weeks depending on the family and the life stage of interception. In addition, agricultural commodities are often contaminated with different life stages, males or damaged specimen of these pests, making identification difficult or impossible. As a result, shipments of agricultural produce are often rejected and trade disrupted. Furthermore, pest invasions do not only occur by importation via formal channels. At times pests cross boarders as contaminants of undeclared material and may again spread on their own as they naturally expand their range. This expansion may be negatively or positively influenced by other factors such as climate change. Resolving the challenges associated with identification, phylogenetic relationships and the limited knowledge of the effects of climate change on distribution range of scale insects are the main goals of this study. Specifically (i) the development of a rapid method of species identification, (ii) the relationship between and within three major scale insect families the Coccoidea, Diaspididae and Pseudococcidae and (iii) the effect of climate change on the future distribution range of scale insects in South Africa were explored...

This study analyses how DNA evidence can be distorted by the behaviour of criminal investigators and role-players within the Criminal Justice System (CJS). This has a negative impact on justice resulting in further criminality. The study has resulted in revelatory weaknesses owing to constitutional violations which cause sound evidence to become futile as it will not be admissible in court. Justice is aborted. The researcher has further explained the properties of the pertinent terms, such as: mental illness, psycho-social functioning, DNA, forensic investigator, forensic psychology, and courts. Concepts are building blocks, hermeneutical distortion leads to the frustrating of what justice intends and this, in turn, leads to poor criminal investigation performance. It is submitted that not only ineptness, but also deception possibly evolves from genotypic to phenotypic type which causes unwelcome behaviour within the criminal justice system to surface. The frequency of monitoring psychological behaviour amongst criminal investigations is low, and it, therefore, also contributes to delict and the miscarriage of justice occurs. / Police Practice / M.A. (Criminal Justice)

DNA is identified as a powerful tool in the solving of rape cases, but it is often destroyed either by members of the public or the police officials who attend to the scene. The aim of the study was to evaluate the management of DNA evidence in rape cases in the Bishop Lavis Policing Area. To address the research topic under investigation, research questions, a legal framework and policies were used. The outcome of the study indicated poor performance in securing the crime scene and ensuring that physical evidence is preserved and not tampered with. On this basis, it was recommended that developmental workshops and intensive training on the management of DNA evidence be conducted to all members of the South African Police Service attend to rape crime scenes. This should be done to equip them with knowledge and an understanding of the management of DNA evidence. / Police Practice / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

The use of technology and science in the investigation of crime plays a major role in the resolution of complicated cases that cannot be solved by means of other available evidence during the prosecution of rape cases. The study details the importance of semen in investigation of rape cases and emphasizes that semen discovered during the investigation must be analysed in all cases of rape and used as evidence in court. The use of semen as evidence in the investigation of rape cases is a modern intervention aimed at producing evidence that is reliable and relevant. / Criminology and Security Science / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

Democratic and accountable policing is one of the hallmarks of democracy. In a healthy democracy, a police service exists to protect and support the rights of its community by successfully listening to those who are laying complaints and resolving to assist them by bringing the perpetrators to the grinding wheels of justice. Encouraging and ensuring that police officials utilise the most modern means of investigation such as the DNA technology, provides the necessary balance to the exercise of professional discretion and heightened conviction rate by the police officials. The utilisation of biological evidence in investigation of rape cases is such a modern intervention – a way of providing insulation against internal and external interference with the proper and successful investigation of rape cases. / Forensic Investigation / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

Democratic and accountable policing is one of the hallmarks of democracy. In a healthy democracy, a police service exists to protect and support the rights of its community by successfully listening to those who are laying complaints and resolving to assist them by bringing the perpetrators to the grinding wheels of justice. Encouraging and ensuring that police officials utilise the most modern means of investigation such as the DNA technology, provides the necessary balance to the exercise of professional discretion and heightened conviction rate by the police officials. The utilisation of biological evidence in investigation of rape cases is such a modern intervention – a way of providing insulation against internal and external interference with the proper and successful investigation of rape cases. / Forensic Investigation / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)