Chasing the forensics dream

Justicia Shipena





Tiffany Seralda du Plessis (25) was born and raised in Windhoek.

She attended Emma Hoogenhout Primary School and completed her matric in 2012 at Jan Mohr Secondary School. She ended amongst the top 25 students in Namibia.

In 2013 she started her studies at the University of Pretoria in South Africa.

She graduated with a BSc in medical sciences in 2017 and recently attained her postgraduate degree (BScHons Medical Criminalistics).

Du Plessis told The Zone she always wanted to pursue a career in the medical field. Initially she wanted to study a bachelor of medicine and surgery degree and eventually specialise in paediatrics,

However, she ended up studying psychology in her first year, which she quickly came to realise was not for her. In her second year she transferred to biological sciences. After biological sciences she started her medical sciences studies.

Her majors included human anatomy and physiology and dissections were what excited her the most about the degree.

In her final year she applied for her honours in medical criminalistics and out of 96 students she was one of the few that got invited for an evaluation, which involved a real-life autopsy with a fresh cadaver.

“I was always very intrigued by death and what causes it, as well as solving problems, and this was right in my league,” she said.

She had a tough first year, being away from home in a strange place and with no family around.

Although it was a hectic few years, with sleepless nights and loads of work, it was also very exciting, as South Africa is known for its crime rate, and thus she was in an excellent environment to receive the best education.

Her studies consisted of a theory and a practical component. The theory consisted of medical law, pathology, forensic science and ethics.

“My practicals consisted of autopsies, crime scene investigation and court attendance,” she said.

Du Plessis encourages young people to go into this field as it is a very rare and important field.

However, they have to have a passion for it, accompanied by the right personality, because working with gruesomeness not for everyone. “Anyone interested in this field should also be ready for long hours, as we are only a few and the work load may become a lot.

“Any Namibian that is interested to follow this path should be prepared to emigrate, as there are currently no opportunities in this field in Namibia, even though it is such a rare and high-in-demand field. I am saying this because I have my degrees and yet I’m unemployed,” she said.

She said it is vital to enforce this field’s knowledge onto young people, because it is such a rare field and they are our future. Young people can bring more energy as well as a new or better perspective to each case, Du Plessis added.

They can also develop new technologies needed in the field and they may find easier and more effective ways to solve cases.

She would like to thank her teachers at Emma Hoogenhout Primary School and Jan Mohr Secondary School, who played a role in helping her achieve her goals.

“I was once told that forensics is not for me, but I somehow made it mine. Chase your dream, because only you can achieve it,” she said.

Did you know?

The University of Pretoria was established in 1908 as the Pretoria campus of the Johannesburg-based Transvaal University College, and is the fourth South African institution in continuous operation to be awarded university status.

Facts about Tiffany

· She loves dancing.

· She loves to network with other people.

· She is always ready to give a helping hand to others.