Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson and KZN Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi walk through the newly opened Forensic Science Laboratory in Mayville. This state-of-the-art facility serves as a crucial stepping stone towards the establishment of a permanent forensic facility in Pinetown, enhancing KwaZulu-Natal's capabilities in crime fighting and ensuring faster justice for victims.
Image: Leon Lestrade/Independent Newspapers
The official handover of the new Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Mayville on Friday is not just an infrastructure upgrade; it's an immediate, crucial step in KwaZulu-Natal’s fight against sophisticated crime and a solid move toward the province’s long-awaited, permanent forensic facility in Pinetown.
For years, KZN's law enforcement has been hampered by unsuitable, fragmented facilities, some in flood-prone zones. This jeopardised the integrity of evidence and severely slowed the pace of justice.
The Mayville facility, secured as a stopgap solution, pulls the essential Biology, Chemistry, and Questioned Documents units into one secure location, promising instant improvements in how quickly cases are processed.
Deputy police minister Cassel Mathale emphasised that the facility signals a major shift in policing strategy. “Forensic Science is the bedrock of modern, intelligence-led policing,” he stated. “It lets us move past relying on circumstantial evidence and toward scientifically proven facts.”
This development is especially vital for victims of violent crime and gender-based violence, who have often endured heartbreaking delays because of forensic backlogs.
Deputy Minister Shela Polly Boshielo addressed this human cost directly. “It is incredibly difficult for a family to wait for over a month, unable to bury their loved ones. We are a government that listens, and that’s precisely what we aim to fix with this facility.”
Housed in a secured, custom-fitted building, the new Mayville lab will serve as a functional link until the state-owned, multi-billion rand FSL is completed in Pinetown.
Public Works and Infrastructure minister Dean Macpherson confirmed that plans for the permanent site are progressing well, with his department exploring an innovative funding approach.
“What we’re handing over today is not the final destination, but it is a vital step forward on the journey,” Macpherson said.
He explained that his department is piloting a ‘Build, Operate, and Transfer’ model for the Pinetown project.
“We’re looking at an innovative approach… where we will issue a Triple P [Public-Private Partnership] to the private sector to construct that facility and then pay a monthly rental. This prevents the police’s cash flow from being tied up in one huge transaction, which could be up to R5 billion.”
This two-pronged approach solves an urgent operational problem now while actively building a sustainable long-term solution is at the core of the government’s promise to restore the rule of law.
KZN Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi pointed out the immediate advantages of centralising operations.
He said scattering units across various buildings had created significant hurdles for command and control.
“Having our team housed in a single location like this will boost performance, improve command and control, and enhance the handling and processing of the evidence that will come out of this lab,” Mkhwanazi stated.
Premier Thami Ntuli framed the investment as a moral duty for the province.
“This laboratory signifies something deeper: a change in how we view crime solving. It marks the shift from reactive policing to intelligence policing,” he stated.
“For the people of KwaZulu-Natal, particularly the victims of crime, this is a moment that confirms their demands for justice have been heard,” the premier added.
The facility will now be fully equipped to process DNA and other forensic evidence in-house, transforming KZN from merely an ‘evidence recovery’ site into a fully operational centre for forensic analysis.
The lease for the Mayville facility is set until September 2030, providing a stable home for forensic services while preparations for the Pinetown laboratory get underway.
Minister Macpherson stressed the facility’s critical importance, noting it is essential for the police officers working there, the prosecutors building their cases, and the victims seeking justice.
Ultimately, he said it is vital for every South African citizen who deserves to live in a safer country.
“This is how the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure does its part. We might not wear a police uniform, but we can deliver the infrastructure that empowers the police. We might not wear prosecutor robes, but we can help ensure that the physical setting supporting justice is worthy of the task.
“And we may not conduct forensic analysis ourselves, but we can ensure that those who do have the kind of secure and fit-for-purpose facility they require to execute that work effectively.”
karen.singh@inl.co.za