The DA has slammed Gauteng Health’s apparent disregard for the concerns recently highlighted by provincial forensic pathology labs. In a statement, the party said that the recent dispute over the evisceration or risk allowance paid to mortuary assistants should be a wake-up call for the department, and although the two-day Popcru strike did not cause a backlog in post-mortems, it exposed unresolved concerns about poor working conditions and the R750-per-month risk allowance for staff working in “hazardous and emotionally demanding environments”.
Unless addressed urgently, the department risked losing skilled personnel and compromising critical forensic pathology services to Gauteng residents, warned MPL Madeleine Hicklin, DA Gauteng spokesperson for health.
She said that the DA would formally write to Health MEC Faith Mazibuko, urging her to engage with labour representatives to determine a fair, market-related increase in the allowance while simultaneously addressing broader workplace concerns raised by staff, “as these issues cannot be ignored or wished away”.
The statement added that during the strike, forensic pathologists and their assistants downed tools, leaving only a handful of people on hand to carry out the necessary work to avoid a backlog in processing of examinations and reports.
Staff raised concerns about exposure to biological hazards, inadequate health support, and the psychological toll of working with victims of violent crime. They also complained about the current evisceration allowance of R750 per month, saying it was inadequate given the hazardous nature of their work.
“While the DA does not support Popcru’s demand to increase the allowance to R5 000 per month, given current fiscal pressures, the existing allowance does not adequately reflect the nature of the work being performed,” wrote Hicklin.
“The work is physically demanding and psychologically challenging, making regular counselling, support services, and trauma debriefing essential. The Gauteng Health Department must consider a market-related increase of at least double the current payment.
“Compensation alone will not solve the problem. The department must also ensure that all forensic pathology laboratories comply fully with Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) standards, provide adequate PPE, and offer regular psychological support and debriefing services to employees exposed to traumatic and distressing circumstances.
“It is barely two years since we were denied access to the Hillbrow Mortuary in November 2024 to investigate allegations of OHS compliance failures.”
Hicklin said the dispute “should therefore not be viewed as a wage disagreement…It is a warning that frontline forensic staff feel undervalued and unsupported”.
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