Alert: Germiston mortuary affected by pathologist go-slow
SANDF comes to the rescue of Gauteng state mortuaries on strike.
Germiston Mortuary is affected by the pathologist strike at Gauteng Mortuaries, which has left many families unable to access the bodies of their loved ones for burial.
The GCN received a number of complaints from distressed community members.
“This is absolutely unacceptable because funeral arrangements have been massively affected by this,” said one community member, who wished to remain anonymous.
“The Department of Health needs to resolve the problem as soon as possible.
“People have customary burial traditions that need to be performed before funerals and the strike has caused a lot of frustration and distress.”
The GCN spoke to Khutso Rabothata, the spokesperson for the Gauteng MEC of Health, Gwen Ramokgopa, who said the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has been tasked with sending health professionals to the affected mortuaries to “work around the clock” to address the backlog of autopsies by tomorrow (June 15).
According to him, seven medical professionals from the SANDF would assist with the situation.
Rabothata explained that the forensic pathology officers feel their duties and performances aren’t recognised and that they are not paid well enough.
“Among other things, the workers want an allowance on top of their monthly salary.”
In an effort to resolve the problem, Rabothata said the MEC held a meeting with the workers at the Diepkloof Forensic Pathology Services, on Friday.
“After lengthy discussions, the parties involved couldn’t reach an agreement which lead to another meeting being held on Monday, in Johannesburg,” said Rabothata.
“The MEC convened a second meeting with the parties involved, including the acting HOD of the Department of Health, Dr Ernest Kenoshi, in an effort to resolve the matter amicably.”
Rabothata also said although government agreed to implement a danger allowance, resume debriefing sessions and counselling and reverse the Occupational Specific Dispensation (OSD), the workers are still on a go-slow.
“The parties involved couldn’t reach consensus on the allowance issue,” said Rabothata.
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