In this file picture, bodies from the Park Rynie mortuary were offloaded from a KZN Forensic Pathology Services truck at Port Shepstone mortuary because of a strike. | Motshwari Mofokeng/ Independent Newspapers
The issue of hundreds of bodies piled up in KwaZulu-Natal mortuaries, as claimed in several media reports, pertains to only a few facilities in particular.
The DA is aware that in all cases, KZN’s Department of Health (DoH) has completed its part in post-mortems, DNA samples and other processes. It must also be categorically stated that the department is not responsible for burials but for storage until all processes are completed.
Where the wheels fall off is when the SAPS, DNA sampling and municipalities don’t come to the party. This includes delays by investigating officers, DNA identification and clearing the backlog, families who don’t come forward and not enough being done by municipalities whose responsibility it is to ensure burials of unclaimed bodies.
If burials or cremations are undertaken, where processes are incomplete, this might hamper investigations and, ultimately, justice. This in itself is disrespectful to the deceased and their families.
It is a sad and worrisome situations. It is horrendous that it has been going on for so long.
There has to be an engagement between the SAPS, its laboratories, municipalities and families in order to find closure. If KZN’s DoH will not take the initiative to reduce the backlogs, the engagement must be initiated at the portfolio committee level to bind those responsible with deadlines to ensure finality.
The DA will, therefore, engage with KZN’s health portfolio committee members, in due course, to find a way forward. This will include engagement with the mortuaries concerned to find specific solutions.
Dr Imran Keeka | MPL DA Spokesperson on Health
The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
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