36/1/4/1/201000027
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 185
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 19 FEBRUARY 2010
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 2- 2010)
Date reply submitted : 24 March 2010
185. Mrs P A Mocumi (ANC) to ask the Minister of Police:
(1) What is the location of each forensic science laboratory of the
SA Police Service;
(2) (a) what are the requirements for international accreditation
of forensic science laboratories, (b) which of the laboratories are
internationally accredited and (c) who is responsible for getting
accreditation;
(3) whether all of these laboratories are internationally
accredited; if not, (a) why not and (b) what will be done to ensure
that they get the necessary accreditation; if so, what are the
relevant details?
NW190E
REPLY:
(1)
|FSL |UNIT |LOCATION |
|Forensic Science|Chemisty Unit |270 Pretoria road |
|Laboratory (FSL)|Ballistics Unit |Silverton |
|Silverton |Scientific Analysis | |
| |Unit | |
|FSL Arcadia |Biology Unit |730 Pretorius Street, |
| | |Arcadia |
|Genl Piet |Question Documents |218 Visagie Street, |
|Joubert Building|Unit |Arcadia |
|FSL |Ballistics Unit |415 Kingsway Kings Crest |
|KwaZulu-Natal |Chemistry Unit |Building, Amanzimtoti |
|FSL Eastern Cape|Ballistics Unit |Eben Donges building, |
| |Chemistry Unit |Hancock Street North End |
| |Biology Unit | |
|FSL Western Cape|Question Documents |Building A 81 Sochem Reeb|
| |Unit |Road, Macassar |
|FSL Western Cape|Ballistics Unit  |Building Q 14 Sochem Reeb|
| | |Road, Macassar |
|FSL Western Cape|Chemistry Unit |35 Squadron Erica Way, |
| |Liquor Unit |Belhar |
|FSL Western Cape|Chemistry Unit |Off Hindle Road, MRC |
| |Biology Unit |Grounds, Delft |
(2) (a) Compliance to ISO 17025 for testing and calibration
laboratories.
(2) (b) None of the SA forensic science laboratories are internationally
accredited.
(2) (c) The Head: FSL with the Section Heads of each section is
responsible for getting accreditation.
(3) (a) FSL does not adhere to all the ISO 17025 requirements, at the
moment we have a quality management system (which is prerequisite) in
place. As part of the review being conducted by the Secretariat this
matter is being looked into as is the question of laboratories being
internationally accredited.
(3) (b) Gap analysis was performed and the barriers inter alia such as
preventative maintenance programs which need to be implemented by
Department of Public Works for the laboratory facilities need to be
addressed. Subsequently an action plan has been compiled to improve
the Quality Management System of the FSL to comply with all the
specifications of the ISO 17025.
Reply to question 185 approved by Minister