In line with the Cybercrimes Act, 2020 (Act 19 of 2020), a Cybercrimes Designated Point of Contact has been established through a collaboration between the CSIR and SAPS. The facility is located at the CSIR in Pretoria. The Act requires all financial and electronic communications service providers to report cybercrimes directly to this designated point of contact, the CSIR said in its 2024/25 annual report.

“As the use of digital systems for communication and online transactions becomes increasingly widespread, so do the risks to the safety and security of user’s personal information. Previously, there was no dedicated mechanism or platform to report cybercrimes. In response, the CSIR developed a secure, web-based reporting platform that allows service providers to report cybercrimes directly to the SAPS Designated Point of Contact, hereby supporting cybercrime investigation and response efforts.”

The tool has been fully developed over the past two years and is ready for deployment in a live environment. It will undergo final testing, security assessments and penetration testing before being rolled out nationally for use by all financial and electronic communications service providers in South Africa, the CSIR said.

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To support this effort, the Limpopo ICT Forum, Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) are jointly host a three-day Cybersecurity Awareness Webinar Series under the theme “Your Data, Your Power: Hlayiseka!” The phrase Hlayiseka!, meaning “Be Safe”, is a call to action for all citizens to take ownership of their digital safety. The theme serves as a reminder that personal data is power and protecting it is not only a technical responsibility but also a personal and social one, the CSIR said.

This initiative forms part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month (October), which is celebrated globally to promote safer online practices and to build a culture of digital responsibility. The webinars bring together cybersecurity experts, educators, parents and members of the public to learn and engage on practical ways to stay safe online and safeguard their digital identities.

The Cybersecurity Awareness Webinar Series aims to:

Promote awareness of personal data protection and responsible digital behaviour;

Educate citizens on how to identify and respond to common online threats;

Strengthen child online protection and digital rights awareness; and

Foster collaboration between government, industry, academia and communities to enhance national cyber resilience.

Day three (30 October 2025 from 18:00 – 19:00) will focus on romance scams and online relationship fraud (phishing and catfishing). It will be hosted by Siphokazi Novukuza, Director, Cybersecurity Operations, DCDT. Presenters will include Thuli Mkhwanazi: Senior Cybersecurity Researcher, CSIR; Danielle Badenhorst: Cybersecurity Specialist, CSIR; and Matsebe Phasha, Committee Member, Secretary, Limpopo ICT Forum.

To join, participants can click on this Teams link.

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The conference will run alongside the 8th G-STIC Conference (G-STIC Pretoria), marking the first time the event is being held in Africa.

The CSIR@80 | G-STIC Conference will take place from 8–10 October 2025 at the CSIR Convention Centre in Pretoria under the theme “Science, Technology and Innovation for a Sustainable Future.” The conference will highlight collaborative technological solutions for global sustainability challenges in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As such, various government representatives and experts from both industry and academia are set to address a range of topic areas, including water, climate, energy, public health, as well as safety and security.

Safety and Security as the Bedrock of Sustainability

While much of the conference will focus on climate resilience initiatives, health, renewable energy (the green transition), and agriculture; safety and security are set to be particularly pertinent topics at the event. The CSIR itself boasts a long and renowned history with national security and defence research as well as other areas such as agriculture and health. Consequently, for the CSIR to be collaborating with G-STIC offers an opportunity not only to share innovations in renewable energy, health, and food systems, but also to highlight how innovation in security can and does offer opportunities for wider societal benefits through advancing local and global sustainability efforts.

From monitoring and protecting water and energy infrastructure, to enhancing digital infrastructure, governance, and cybersecurity, the ability to keep societies safe is fundamental to Africa’s future and sustainable development. The CSIR@80 | G-STIC Pretoria Conference will put this reality into focus through its thematic content and speaker line-up.

Security Within the Programme

Attendees can look forward to a number of plenary and ‘deep dive’ sessions which directly and indirectly touch on safety and security matters.

For example, one the plenary sessions is themed “Building national resilience through home-grown technological innovations for safety and security.” This session will emphasise the benefits that can be derived from leveraging local skills, knowledge, and technology for enhanced resilience and strategic autonomy as part of a ‘whole-of-society’ approach to national security, industrial growth, and safety. Consequently, the aim of the session is to encourage and enable collaboration, while also enhancing the understanding of the role that technology can and does play in achieving safe and sustainable development.

Additionally, there are two safety- and security-themed ‘deep dive’ sessions which attendees can look forward to. These are “Leveraging technology and innovation for strategic safety, security, and resilience in South Africa” as well as “Invisible threats, intelligent responses: monitoring water for a resilient future.”

The former will showcase how investment in and utilisation of home-grown South African technologies, ranging from secure digital infrastructure to advanced cameras for enhanced boarder and urban security as well as early-warning systems, can contribute to national resilience, safety, and sustainable resource management. It will also highlight the role of public–private partnerships (PPPs) in aligning these innovations with the SDGs. The latter will focus on innovative technologies (such as remote sensing, drones, AI analytics, and advanced diagnostics) that are transforming water quality monitoring and management. By showcasing case studies and scientific insights, it will explore how these tools can enable resilient, high-quality water systems despite climate change.

Key Speakers to Look Out For

One of the highlights of the conference will be the opportunity to engage with a wide variety of government representatives, speakers, and experts. One of the most notable speakers in the safety and security space is Katekani Hlabathi, ICT Manager at South Africa’s State Security Agency (SSA). Hlabathi brings over 28 years of experience and insider expertise on cyber threats, national ICT security governance, and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) projects. Hlabathi is set to present a path forward in securing South Africa’s digital future through Public Key Infrastructure (PKI).

Notably, the conference is also expected to host several senior government representatives such as Prof. Blade Nzimande, the Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, who will be delivering opening remarks at the conference’s outset.

Attendees can also expect to engage with a number of other speakers and experts in the safety and security domain during conference panel discussions and presentations. Some of the confirmed participants include:

• Dr Mthobisi Clyde Zondi, CEO and Executive Chair, Sandock Austral Group.
• Dr Moses Khanyile, Director, Defence Artificial Intelligence Research Unit (DAIRU).
• Sujo Mulamattathil, Managing Director, Threeframes/Sparcx.
• Dr Mamela Luthuli, CEO, TakeNoteIT.
• Dr Mike Masiapato, CEO and Commissioner, Border Management Authority, who will deliver the keynote address for the “Building national resilience through home-grown technological innovations for safety and security” plenary session.

The CSIR@80 | G-STIC Conference will not only mark 80 years of scientific achievement but also presents a unique opportunity for African realities, concerns, and challenges to be embedded in the global sustainability discourse. With contributors from government, industry, and academia, the conference will showcase the importance of domestic and international collaboration in science and technology for driving innovative and sustainable solutions for present and future challenges.

For more information please visit: https://gsticpretoria.org/

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The Meerkat currently uses a Reutech Radar Systems RSR 904 radar but the new CSIR developed unit is more cost effective. Meerkat combines the radar with day and thermal cameras for 24-hour operation, and information analysis software that is able to detect, track and classify people entering certain areas. It can monitor up to 200 square kilometres at a time.

The new Ground-based Surveillance and Classification Radar (GSCR) developed by the CSIR is able to classify targets – for example distinguishing between animals and humans, and may thus be able to operate without the Meerkat cameras that currently aid in identifying and classifying targets. The GSCR’s goal is unattended automated operation, with a game ranger, for example, obtaining a notification of an intrusion on a cell phone.

The new GSCR radar uses C-band electronically-steered antenna technology for improved sensitivity and better target classification.

It was developed with support from the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI). The CSIR is aiming the new radar at the Border Management Authority, for counter-rhino poaching, and other applications.

The CSIR sees the radar, and its Tyto, Otus and RINO cameras, as building blocks potentially forming part of a larger family of surveillance radar systems for wildlife protection, border safeguarding, counter-crime on farms and in suburbs, key point security, counter air intrusion etc.

The CSIR has a long history of radar development, and is working on numerous radar projects at the moment, such as a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for unmanned aerial vehicles, and has delivered a radar-based drone detection system to armasuisse (Federal Office for Defence Procurement) in Switzerland (SAMURAI: Swiss African MUltistatic RAdar Initiative). The CSIR’s most notable recent radar project is the Quadome, developed in conjunction with Hensoldt South Africa. This is the biggest local radar project in many years, and has already secured an export customer (the UK’s Royal Navy).

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The app was unveiled at the school on 27 November 2023, with a training workshop to help Portland Block H Neighbourhood Watch members with installing the app, as well as registration and authentication processes.

BlockWatch leverages predictive analytics to enhances the user community’s awareness and decision-making by accurately predicting future locations of crime and violent incidents on a weekly basis.

The technology allows users to record incidents, including the location and timestamp for all observations made during patrols.

Other project collaborators include the Western Cape Government Departments of Health and Wellness, and Police Oversight and Community Safety.

The CSIR in its 2023/24 annual report said the pilot project will help assess the app’s suitability for determining the spatial patterns of crime and violence in the area and for decision-making in addressing sporadic flare-ups of incidents in highly volatile communities.

CSIR CEO Dr Thulani Dlamini said BlockWatch uses artificial intelligence to predict crime and allow law enforcement officers to be proactive rather than reactive. “The best solution we can have as a country is to prevent crime rather than intervening after a crime has been committed.”

He said BlockWatch will help law enforcement as well as neighbourhood watches to get ahead of potential crime hotspots in the country. After rolling out in Mitchells Plain, the CSIR hopes to scale up to other parts of the country.

BlockWatch is one of numerous CSIR initiatives to provide safety and security solutions under the Defence and Security cluster, which delivers integrated security solutions for private, public and civil sectors, and technology innovation to foster a robust local defence and security industry.

Civil security research and development offers command and control capabilities for crowd management; sensor systems for homes, businesses and critical infrastructure that enable authorities to identify and rapidly react to criminal activities; integrated security solutions for infrastructure security; and security solutions for the cash-in-transit industry, amongst others.

A notably successful CSIR developed project is its Meerkat wide-area surveillance system, developed to detect and intercept rhino poachers in the Kruger National Park – before they attack. The system uses a land surveillance radar plus radar-designated, long-range cameras with laser illumination for night operations. The radar detects and localises a moving target, and the cameras confirm detections as well as distinguishing between humans and animals. All components are locally sourced and supported.

The sensor system is self-sufficient and can be used continuously for months at a time at unprepared and unattended sites. This allows maximum continuous coverage over poaching ingress routes. The system is quickly moved by pick-up truck and/or helicopter. The system can be used in any large area requiring perimeter protection – including border safeguarding, industrial plant security and farm security. Its success was proven in the Kruger National Park, where it has been in operational use since 2017.

The CSIR developed the cameras for the Meerkat, including the Cyclone and Otus. Tyto is a lighter, smaller and cheaper version of Otus. Tyto is able to operate during the day or at night with enhanced twilight performance. It has a high sensitivity monochrome main sensor and thermal detection sensor. Range is around 5 km, compared to approximately 1 0km for Otus. RINO is a smaller version of Otus with similar range capability – it is far lighter and easier to transport. In addition to camera upgrades, Meerkat may in future be fitted with a new Ground-based Surveillance and Classification Radar (GSCR) developed by the CSIR with support from the Department of Science and Innovation.

Another example of a CSIR security solution is a stock theft application. The Department of Correctional Services discovered livestock losses of up to R250 000 per month from a farming project in the Eastern Cape so CSIR systems engineers rapidly responded with a risk assessment and threat analysis and developed a security operational concept. To speed up development, the CSIR worked with a local manufacturer of a perimeter intrusion monitoring system as part of the overall solution. The system detects movement through radar and video capabilities, using day and night cameras. After the first attempted intrusion was detected and thwarted, the theft ended.

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According to Craig Rosewarne, Cyber-Security Expert and Managing Director of Wolfpack Information Risk, the cyber threat landscape in South Africa requires a multi-faceted approach. He explains that companies, governments, and vulnerable communities face different but interlinked risks. Companies are increasingly being held accountable for their third-party suppliers’ cyber-security standards, with large enterprises requiring compliance with ISO 27001 certification. South African banks, for example, have emulated the likes of Nigeria by setting high cyber-security thresholds before granting licenses to financial institutions. Yet, public institutions and local communities continue to be ideal destinations for cyber-terrorists due to the minimal nature of their IT investments, coupled with general lack of cyber awareness.

The government response to the situation is driven by Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT). Tlangelani Manganyi, Media Relations Officer at DCDT, outlined key developments in South Africa’s National Cyber-security Strategy. Guided by the National Cyber-security Policy Framework (NCPF) of 2015, multiple agencies like the Cyber-security Hub and the ECS-CSIRT under the State Security Agency (SSA) are operational. While the Cyber-security Hub focuses on public engagement and education, ECS-CSIRT manages incident response and threat intelligence. The Cybercrimes Act, 2020, operationalised on December 1, 2021, further promotes this legislative framework insofar as consolidating cybercrime laws and thus introducing new offenses dealing specifically with the manipulation of data, digital messaging, and the abuse of networks.

Phetolo Phatsibi is a Media Relations Practitioner at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and spoke highly of the role technology played in the country’s strategy in cyber-security. The CSIR’s Information & Cyber Security Centre has designed a Cyber Early Warning System, which is an inexpensive device aimed at detection and prevention in the early stages of such cyber-attacks.

“Secondly, the Virtual Security Operations Centre under the same ICSC offers technical assistance and incident response to both the private and public sectors.

“The partnerships with the SMMEs form part of the bigger strategy by South Africa to enhance local cyber security capabilities and reduce overdependence on imported solutions,” Phatsibi said.

In the case of the financial sector, the stakes are higher. According to Ntshiki Maluleka, the Head of Media and Communications at the South African Banking Risk Information Centre, digital banking fraud is on the rise, with schemes like phishing and “Facebook fraud” causing significant losses for South African banks. Enhanced transaction monitoring systems have been implemented to detect unusual activity, and consumer awareness campaigns have been launched

to educate users about safe banking practices. However, Maluleka is the first to admit that consumer confidence has taken a hit, especially with social media platforms becoming a breeding ground for fraudulent schemes.

Private sector businesses are equally at risk from cyber threats. For instance, Gift Chawasarira, the Chief Financial Officer at National Funeral Undertakers Investment Company-NAFUICO, narrates how phishing scams and hacking into accounts have inflated the operating costs of his organization. Against these threats, NAFUICO has implemented general IT controls like access restrictions, encrypted devices, and system audits. Recently, the company hired a Chief Technology Officer to consolidate its cyber security policies and decrease dependence on external consultants. According to Chawasarira, the costs of cyber security disproportionately affect smaller firms, which have limited resources to manage advanced threats.

The Cybersecurity Hub has played a critical role in terms of public education; and it is led by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Technologies which provides a number of the Ministry’s initiatives to gain in building cyber security awareness amongst the citizens. Amongst these interventions included the development of a Cybersecurity Schools Toolkit for teachers, parents, and learners according to the Ministry of Communications and Digital Technologies Spokesperson, Kwena Moloto. This initiative aims at equipping young South Africans with the knowledge to identify and mitigate online threats. Further, the Hub launched a Cybersecurity Toolkit for SMMEs, in collaboration with the Information Regulator. This provides hands-on guidelines on securing business systems, training staff, and responding to cyber incidents.

The private sector response to South Africa’s cyber security crisis has been dynamic and multi-pronged. Companies are investing in sophisticated technologies such as AI-powered threat detection, biometric verification, and data encryption tools. Rosewarne further emphasised that training and awareness programs are very important, and Wolfpack Information Risk has provided cyber security training to a number of South African financial institutions and also some regional banks across Africa.

“Awareness is key to combating cybercrime,” said Rosewarne.

He further commented that vulnerable communities, in particular, such as NGOs and schools, are easily targeted as they usually lack the IT capacity to defend themselves. Wolfpack supports such communities with pro bono services and educational resources-including the book “Cyber Crime Self Defense”-which informs the public about the many different types of online scams and how to protect oneself.

Financially, cybercrime is seriously affecting the economy of South Africa. It has been estimated by the CSIR to cost R2.2 billion annually. A TransUnion 2024 analysis of suspected digital fraud rates in 19 countries found that South Africa ranked eighth, with 4.9% of all online transactions suspected of being fraudulent. The worst-hit sectors were in telecommunications, financial services, and online communities. Synthetic identity fraud, where fraudsters create identity using real personal information, has increased by 153% over the past year. In addition, SIM-swap fraud and phishing scams are becoming increasingly worrisome; phishing alone cost South Africans R200 million in 2023 — a 50% increase from 2022, according to SABRIC.

Fraud in public institutions has also exposed South Africa’s cyber security gaps. SASSA and the Department of Home Affairs incidents have recently shown just how vulnerable these kinds of organisations are to data breaches. Government systems, which can sometimes house a great deal of sensitive data, are, according to Rosewarne, being targeted in ransom-ware attacks. He said,

“It is an emerging threat, not only in the private sector but also in the public sector. The government is under immense pressure to protect the critical information infrastructure, as these kinds of attacks are growing in frequency and sophistication,” said Rosewarne.

Under the leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa, some measures have been put in place to improve the cyber security framework in South Africa. These include:

Legislative measures

In June 2021, the President signed the Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity Act into law. The new law brings in additional breach reporting requirements for organizations, as the country attempts to match global standards in cyber security.

National cyber security strategy

It has adopted a national cyber strategy and created a military Cyber Command, but for many years, competing priorities have rivaled it for the top spot: corruption, poverty, and racial injustice.

Challenges and expert opinion

Yet despite these initiatives, experts identify persistent shortcomings. In a report, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace describes the cyber strategy under Ramaphosa as “limited progress” and a “low priority”. The report suggests that foundational steps have been taken, but much more comprehensive and prioritised efforts are necessary to effectively address cyber security threats.

Furthermore, the country lacks cyber security experts, which hinders its efforts in effectively combating cyber threats.

The bottom line is that while the administration led by President Ramaphosa has taken crucial legislative and strategic steps toward ensuring cyber security, according to experts, more prioritisation and resources are needed to pump in if it is to meet the changing face of cyber threats head-on.

Looking ahead, proactive measures, collaboration, and capacity-building will define South Africa’s future on cyber-security. More comprehensive training will be rolled out by the government for law enforcement, South African Revenue Services (SARS), and other key stakeholders in a much-needed capacity-building exercise. International support from countries like the UK is anticipated to boost these efforts. Meanwhile, industry players are preparing for possible regulatory changes that would impose stricter cyber security standards, similar to those implemented in Kenya and Nigeria.

As cybercrime evolves; so must South Africa’s swift response. Strengthening public-private partnerships, enhancing education and training, and leveraging homegrown cyber security technologies will be essential. It is a battle that requires collective effort and investment sustained over time, but this commitment to the safeguarding of its digital future finds expression in the initiatives that are underway from its government, financial sector, private enterprises, and

cyber security experts. These actors continue to be guardians of the digital age and have to adapt continuously to innovative methods of protecting South Africa’s critical infrastructure against ever-evolving cyber threats.

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Autonosky is a small, medium, and micro enterprise (SMME) based in the Western Cape. The SMME supports the Western Cape Fire Emergency Services with drone technology solutions for fighting fires. It has identified the CSIR’s K-line camera as a cost-effective surveillance solution to be integrated into its drone for early fire detection and warning, especially in hard-to-reach places. The K-line camera is more precise and timely than conventional cameras in measuring fire flame location and spread dynamics due to its small pixel size, high pixel sensitivity and fast pixel response, the CSIR said.

The CSIR’s K-line technology is an optical imaging system that uses remote sensing techniques to detect potassium light energy emitted from burning vegetation during the combustion phase of fires. Potassium, a chemical element with the periodic symbol K, is released as light energy from fires and can be easily isolated using silicon-based detectors with peak sensitivity within the near-infrared spectrum. This technique has proven valuable for developing compact, affordable remote sensing systems for ground and airborne fire detection.

The rise in global temperatures and associated climate changes has triggered an increase in the frequency and severity of wildfires worldwide. Addressing the wildfire problem demands innovative solutions to mitigate catastrophic fire damage, the CSIR said.

This includes integrating space satellite observation systems for global wildfire surveillance, fire monitoring systems for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) used in tactical firefighting and ground-based systems on elevated platforms. The CSIR is developing space and UAV-based camera payloads for fire detection using the K-line sensor technology.

Under the exclusive technology licence agreement between the CSIR and Autonosky, the CSIR’s K-line payload technology will be integrated into Autonosky’s drone-based fire-fighting technology.

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The CSIR is “very pleased with progress made to date in the implementation of this Strategy,” CEO Dr Thulani Dlamini told a media roundtable discussion on 18 November.

The CSIR Strategy was launched to amplify the ‘Industrial’ component of the CSIR through research, development and innovation (RD&I) activities. Progress has seen the CSIR deepen partnerships with industry – in 2023/24, there was a 211% increase in the number of technologies localised for the organisation’s industry partners compared to 2019/20, an 82.6% increase in the number of joint technology development activities with industry partners. Staff exchange programmes with industry partners increased by 327% in 2023/24 compared to where the organisation was in 2019/20.

The organisation has shifted to focussing on higher technology readiness projects, and in 2023/24, realised a 108% increase in technology demonstrators compared to 2019/20. Other objectives reached in terms of the Strategy include deepening partnerships with higher education institutions (the CSIR has 15 relationships with South African universities) and collaborating with state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and government (in 2023/24, the organisation realised a 12.5% increase in the number of reports that support policy development compared to 2019/20, and a 175% increase in the number of projects implemented on behalf of government departments and SOEs).

An increasing focus on innovation and commercialisation saw the CSIR in 2023/24 realise a 160% increase in the number of technology licence agreements signed with industry partners compared to 2019/20, although the number of patents granted decreased by 24%.

The CSIR in 2023 officially launched its commercialisation enterprise, CSIR C³, to accelerate the pace and increase the scale of the commercialisation of its technologies and Intellectual Property (IP). “The standalone enterprise will hold all CSIR IP and act as an incubator for start-up enterprises underpinned by strong technical and non-financial support. It will enable the commercialisation of CSIR IP through the development of a network of investors and entrepreneurs,” Dr Dlamini stated.

Several other elements of Strategy implementation include the transformation of SET (science, engineering and technology) staff, investment in Property, Plant and Equipment (PPE), income diversification and good governance. In 2023/24, the total number of SET staff was 17.4% higher than it was in 2019/20, with double digit increases in the number of chief researchers and principal researchers. PPE investment in 2023/24 increased by 207% compared to 2019/20.

The CSIR has been making efforts to diversify income and this saw total revenue increase by 15.74% since 2019/20, despite a 5.77% reduction in the organisation’s Parliamentary Grant. Private sector income increased by 28.43% since 2019/20, and income from international sources as a percentage of total income doubled over the last five years.

The CSIR has seen growth in all areas of performance except for the number of patents granted and SET staff with PhDs and publications, although there is a healthy pipeline of priority patent applications.

“The good performance in the area of supporting a capable state means that the government trusts the CSIR as the go-to partner for the development of solutions for the state. Most of the CSIR’s contract research and development income comes from the public sector. In addition, the outstanding performance in the areas of technology localisation, SMME support and joint technology development projects with industry partners demonstrates the organisation’s relevance to both industry and government,” Dr Dlamini said.

“The outstanding performance in the areas of technology localisation, SMME support and joint technology development projects with industry partners indicates that the organisation has developed technologies for and with industry partners to increase their sustainability. Further, the CSIR has managed to sustain a steady growth in income as total revenue has surpassed the R3 billion mark for the first time in history.”

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The devices have been rolled out to DCS facilities, the CSIR said in its 2023/24 annual report, explaining that the DCS is using the scanner to compare the fingerprints of a person brought to a correctional facility from court to those on the warrant of detention form.

As part of a partnership agreement, the CSIR has piloted the fingerprint scanner at Kgosi Mampuru Prison in Pretoria and the Johannesburg Prison.

The fingerprint device is a standalone contactless unit equipped with a standard digital camera used to verify an individual’s identity.

Developed by CSIR biometrics experts, the device can be used for various tasks requiring fingerprint comparison, such as remand management, where an offender awaiting trial is held in a prison.

It can also be used to identify and count offenders during roll calls and verify identities during community correctional visits. The device partitions transactions based on the deployment location.

Although initially developed for the department, the device can also be used to verify motorists’ identities when stopped by traffic officials by comparing their fingerprints to those on a driver’s licence; or on a loaded database.

The CSIR has also developed a laser-based fingerprint acquisition device. According to Dr Motodi Maserumule, Divisional Group Executive: Mining Manufacturing, Defence & Security at the CSIR, the technology acquires fingerprints from the lower epidermis (the epidermis is the skin’s outermost layer, and is composed of several strata). The CSIR’s Information and Cybersecurity Research Centre and the laser centre developed the technology, which has evolved from a large machine to a small device.

Maserumule explained that similar technology can also pick up partial fingerprints from a crime scene, but there are many other applications. One of these is in forensic pathology. Biometric sensors are used to acquire fingerprints from cadavers, which are then digitally queried against various databases to determine their identity.

This system was rolled out in July 2023 at five Forensic Pathology Services facilities in Gauteng (Bronkhorstspruit, Johannesburg, Diepkloof, Pretoria and Germiston) and one in Limpopo as part of a nationwide pilot to aid in the identification of unclaimed cadavers.

The system was developed in collaboration with the Gauteng Department of Health and the Forensic Pathology Services and aims to improve identification turnaround times and reduce the burden of storing unidentified cadavers for extended periods – with the financial assistance of the Centre for Public Service Innovation, the CSIR said in its annual report.

The system interfaces with databases administered by different government entities using their official interfaces. For instance, the local criminal records centre of the South African Police Service (SAPS) uses the SAPS Form 91A for fingerprint queries. Traditionally, forensic pathology services personnel used inkpads to deposit fingerprints on the form for courier to SAPS.

The CSIR and Forensic Pathology Services have digitised the form used to query fingerprints, integrated multiple fingerprint sensors and tied in the credentials of the querying official. The functionality to query against the database of the Department of Home Affairs has also been demonstrated.

The system will alleviate the pressure on resource-constrained forensic mortuaries, which handle countless unclaimed and unidentified bodies. The system will be rolled out to the rest of the country as part of the pilot programme, the CSIR said.

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Democratic Alliance (DA) National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Member of Parliament (MP) who sits on the NCOP Select Committee on Security and Justice (SCSJ) Nicholas Gotsell heard from Minister Pieter Groenewald that work to date has seen the DCS and the CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) develop 10 prototype EMS bracelets.

The project, Gotsell was informed, is a research and development one. It will assess systems integration, software backend, location awareness and geographical fencing among others.

Importantly, full development after proof of concept will ensure South Africa owns the intellectual property (IP) rights and data derived from the system.

The need for further work was identified after a two and a half month test of the bracelets, termed “devices” in the Ministerial response, which adds “further development requirements are being explored”.

The Department conducted tests on the devices at its Kgosi Mampuru II Management Area from 13 November 2023 to 31 January 2024.

As always where taxpayer money is involved, Groenewald notes the EMS bracelets could monitor parolees and probationers “dependent on availability of funds to meet the requisite volumes”.

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