Molecular genetic identification of skeletal remains of apartheid activists in South Africa
Loading...
Date
2008
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Academic Journals
Abstract
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission made significant progress in examining abuses committed
during the apartheid era in South Africa. Despite information revealed by the commission, a large
number of individuals remained missing when the commission closed its proceedings. This provided
the impetus for the establishment of a Missing Persons Task Team within the South African National
Prosecuting Authority. The team has used evidence generated by The Truth and Reconciliation
Commission as well as their own investigations to identify likely burial sites for activists and has
conducted exhumations. The University of the Western Cape (UWC) was privileged to have been able to
assist by initiating a DNA testing program to augment the non-DNA evidence gathered by the Missing
Person's Task Team. In this review we consider some of the technological developments associated
with the testing of skeletal remains and provide an overview of some of the cases analyzed to date.
Description
Keywords
Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), University of the Western Cape, Apartheid, Activists, Missing persons, South African National
Prosecuting Authority, Mass graves, DNA identification, Mitochondrial DNA
Citation
Davison, S. et al. (2008). Molecular genetic identification of skeletal remains of
apartheid activists in South Africa. African Journal of Biotechnology, 7(25): 4750-4757