Nearly 20 forensic pathology mortuaries countrywide are running out of space because of unclaimed bodies, according to Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla, in response to a parliamentary question from DA MP Evelyn Rayne Wilson this week.
News24 reports that she had asked how many of these facilities were adequately equipped to deal with load shedding to prevent bodies from decomposing, and if any had space or refrigeration problems.
Phaahla said seven mortuaries in the Eastern Cape had space limitations, while 10 in KZN had been affected.
“Limpopo has two mortuaries that are running out of space because of unclaimed bodies, Gauteng has seven, and North West has two.”
In Phuthaditjaba in the Free State, the mortuary had electricity supply problems, while the Pinetown facility in KZN needed a generator. Generators in the mortuaries in Pietermaritzburg, Ladysmith, Dundee and Kokstad also occasionally had fuel shortages.
Regulations state that a body can be kept for up to 30 days, after which it should be buried as a pauper, he added.
“After seven days, if (a body has not been) identified, the police and forensic pathology must take fingerprints and send them to the Local Criminal Record Centre unit. It then takes 30 days to bury the body as unidentified.”
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
KZN mortuary workers protest over state of facilities
Bodies overflow, piled on floors, at KZN mortuary
KZN mortuary strike: Corpses abandoned on ward floors