An Analysis of Biometric Devices to Deter Criminal Activities in the University of Limpopo

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18185209

Mohale Ernest Selelo, Michael Nkosinathi Khwela, and Monang Paulinah Selemela (Department of Development Planning and Management, University of Limpopo, South Africa)

The purpose of this paper is to assess the implementation of biometric systems in the University of Limpopo to prevent criminal activities. It argues that the University of Limpopo is one of the Universities that has been using old technology, especially to control the movement of people from the gates and the university residences. This article seeks to demonstrate the need for and implementation of biometric systems as one of the latest technological innovations, which is compatible with the 4IR. Although there is a significant headway in terms of the implementation of the biometric system, much more still needs to be done. This article is established on the basis that non-students also enter the university premises illegally because the system of control at the gates is poor and vulnerable to criminal syndicates. At times, students and to some extent, staff members would lend student/staff cards to their accomplices who are not students to enter the university. This already threatens the lives of students and staff on the university premises. This is a conceptual paper that relies on the use of secondary data. It finds that the application of biometrics for crime prevention and control has garnered notable interest with the progression of technology. Biometrics involves the distinctive physiological or behavioural traits possessed by individuals, which can be employed for purposes of identification and verification. These traits encompass fingerprints, facial recognition, iris scans, voice identification and even DNA analysis.