The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has rubbished claims made by the Democratic Alliance and its member of provincial legislature, Madeleine Hicklin, that there are dozens of unidentified bodies in state mortuaries. This follows a statement by the DA blaming the health department and claiming that there is a major backlog of unclaimed bodies in government mortuaries.

MISLEADING

Provincial health spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said Hicklin deliberately misled the public by creating the impression that Gauteng is sitting with a crisis of unclaimed bodies and indigent burials. "A public representative, Ms. Hicklin, knows very well that the National Department of Health briefed Parliament on 16 September that as of the end of August 2024, there were 3186 unclaimed bodies in state mortuaries. Gauteng Province was in 5th place, accounting for 176 unclaimed bodies, while the Western Cape was in 4th place with 299 unclaimed bodies, with KwaZulu Natal, the Eastern Cape and Limpopo having the largest numbers of unclaimed bodies, respectively," Modiba said. He added that the department is in constant engagement with municipalities to accelerate the issue of pauper's burial, as this is a municipal competency.

WE ARE ON IT

Modiba explained that the Gauteng Department of Health continues to leverage technology to develop a comprehensive ICT strategy for the forensic medical services operations. "Currently, the provincial digital fingerprint system for tracing unidentified bodies is being implemented. Other initiatives being explored include the implementation of the electronic tagging of the Forensic Pathology Service bodies to reduce the risk of handing over incorrect bodies, the implementation of the electronic Content Management System for case files to enhance connectivity in dissection areas to expedite processes, and the establishment of a 24-hour autopsy service to manage the growing caseload effectively," he said.