From bones to beagles:

The fascinating path of forensic anthropologist Belinda Speed

- Jacqueline Herbst

Forensic anthropologist Belinda Speed has spent nearly two decades helping piece together the stories that bones leave behind.

Since 2007, Speed has worked with the SAPS, the Hawks, the Forensic Pathology Service and the Missing Persons Task Team on cases linked to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Her work has focused on identifying deceased individuals, often long after death has wiped out all other clues.

Speed grew up in George, attending school here before heading to the University of Cape Town to study for a BSc in Genetics and Microbiology. Initially, she had planned on becoming a DNA analyst, but by her third year, she realised that wasn't quite right for her.

UCT offered an Honours programme in Biological Anthropology and Anatomy, in which she enrolled. That marked the real beginning of her forensic career as she began doing casework almost as soon as she started the honours year. She later completed her master's in the same field and is currently working towards a PhD in Forensic Medicine.