The DNA Project, whilst initially underpinned and funded by the Leigh Matthews Trust (“LMT”), is a registered Public Benefit Organisation and has undergone a conversion into a s.21 Not for Profit Company with tax exemption status, which tax benefits are able to be passed on to potential donors. The DNA Project is also officially entered onto the register with the Department of Social Development as a Non-profit Organisation.

The Leigh Matthews Trust was originally registered at the time of Rob and Sharon Matthews’ daughter, Leigh’s, murder when so many people wanted to contribute money towards fighting crime. The DNA Project approached the Matthews family at that time and its initiatives were taken on by the Trust, as its aim was to “..assist any organisation or community involved in combating …and generally any other community, organisation or institution that is involved in ridding South African society of the evils of crime.”

Since that time, the DNA Project has grown enormously and has garnered incredible support of its initiatives: we believe that the prime reasons for this support have been because the DNA Project is able to tangibly assist the Forensics Labs and because its objectives have been proven throughout the world to contribute towards the prevention and detection of crime.

As a result of this growth, the project has attracted numerous sponsors supporting different arms of the DNA Project and it was accordingly agreed by the Trustees that the DNA Project should exist independently from the Trust, as a s.21 Non-Profit Company. The structure of the new Not for Profit s.21 Company currently consists of 7 members and four directors, all of whom have been involved with the DNA Project to date.  Donations are allocated to the DNA Project's Objectives , all of  which are aimed at expanding and developing SA’s National DNA Database.

The Office bearers of the s.21 Company are as follows: