– by Noluthando Makhaza
With the increasing crime statistics in SA on a daily basis, forensic investigations play a vital role in the criminal justice system by providing scientific based information through the analysis of physical evidence. During an investigation, evidence is collected at a crime scene or from a person, analysed in a crime laboratory or by an investigator, and then the results are presented in court. Delegates operating within the justice system, from different career backgrounds have recently embarked on a skills training programme called the Certificate in Forensic Investigation Techniques (CFI) to learn more about forensic investigations in the South African context.
Over the past eight years, UKZN Extended Learning has provided high quality programmes taught by distinguished academics from the University and industry experts. We have received great feedback from our alumni over the years’ including most recently, Asanda Ncayiyana, who shared her achievements with her LinkedIn community. Asanda was excited to have received an aggregate of 70% on the CFI programme held earlier in the year.
Our second intake this year, which commenced in August is facilitated in block releases, where delegates attend for a full week per month, for two months. This programme is extremely intensive and practical as delegates are taught by a team of facilitators, each presenting on modules with various assessments set in place to measure the delegates’ acquired knowledge, skills, and competence.
This programme has allowed our delegates the opportunity to be exposed to substantive, practical and ethical aspects of forensic investigation. They leave the programme having understood and able to apply the basic legal concepts in their daily work, basic accounting concepts and forensic auditing, specialised forensic investigation techniques, civil and criminal trial processes, rules of evidence, as well as forensic report writing. We are confident that as our delegates’ return to work, they will be able to apply the above mentioned skills as well as the newly acquired critical thinking and problem solving skills, which will result in a positive impact in their various work environments.
This programme is suitable for students interested in developing practical skills in forensic investigations, and should you wish to partake in next year’s first intake of the CFI programme, please contact:
Percy Sishi
T: +27 31 260 1853
