“The biggest motivation behind my decision to pursue my MSc through the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) was the desire for a fresh start and to step outside of my comfort zone. I have an insatiable hunger for knowledge and thrive in competitive environments where I am surrounded by people who challenge me intellectually.”
This is according to Mr Orateng Baukudi whose master’s research in Genetics explored whether insects that feed on decomposing bodies can be used to detect drugs such as cocaine and heroin when a body is too decomposed for conventional toxicological testing.
“When a person dies from drug poisoning, the body may not be discovered immediately,” he explained. “As decomposition progresses, blood and other tissues usually tested for drugs can become unavailable or unreliable, and when available produce results with a high matrix effect. However, insects that feed on the body may absorb and retain traces of these drugs.”
In his dissertation titled: ‘Detection and Quantification of Cocaine and Heroin in Developmental Stages of Arthropods Collected from Spiked Sus Scrofa Domestica for Forensic Investigations’, Baukudi investigated whether cocaine and heroin, and their metabolites, could be detected and measured in insects collected from decomposing remains, mainly from insect immatures. The research also examined how drug levels differed between insect species and different stages of their development.
The research has relevance for forensic investigations because insects can provide an additional source of evidence when conventional samples are no longer suitable for toxicological analysis. It may assist forensic scientists in determining whether drugs were present in a deceased person and support investigations into suspected drug-related deaths.
Baukudi’s interest in the field is rooted in a longstanding desire to advocate for vulnerable people and allow evidence to speak objectively. He had initially earmarked a career in law but came to recognise that forensic science could bridge the gap between the State and an individual by allowing scientific facts to guide investigations.
His interests subsequently developed in forensic genetics and forensic entomology. While forensic genetics can establish links between individuals, crime scenes and biological evidence, forensic entomology fascinated him because insects can provide information when a body is discovered after a significant delay.
“There is something incredibly powerful about the idea that when the human biological clock stops, another biological clock begins,” he said.
Insects can provide valuable information about the circumstances surrounding death, including helping to estimate the post-mortem interval, determining whether a body may have been moved, and detecting drugs or toxic substances that may have been present before death.
Baukudi believes his research is particularly significant because it provides region-specific information for forensic entomotoxicology in South Africa. A lot of existing research has been conducted elsewhere, and findings cannot always be directly applied to local insect species and environmental conditions.
“In cases where a body has undergone advanced decomposition, it can become difficult to determine whether drugs such as cocaine or heroin contributed to a person’s death,” he said. “My research demonstrates that insects feeding on decomposing remains can retain detectable traces of these drugs and their metabolites, making them a potentially valuable alternative matrix for toxicological analysis.”
Looking ahead, Baukudi plans to gain industry experience and broaden his practical skills before exploring his growing interest in animal genetics, including animal identification, breeding, health and the improvement of animal populations. Further ahead, he hopes to pursue a PhD.
He credited his parents as the foundation for his achievements, while describing his supervisors, Dr Danisile Tembe and Professor Samson Mukaratirwa, as “my parents away from home”. Their guidance, patience and mentorship helped him navigate the challenges of moving to another province.
He also thanked his friends and colleagues for their support, laughter and encouragement, as well as the National Research Foundation for its financial support.
“For me, the most rewarding aspect is knowing that my work can contribute, even in a small way, to improving forensic investigations and the pursuit of justice,” said Baukudi.
Words: Sally Frost
Photograph: Sethu Dlamini