A distraught Monaheng told Kathorus MAIL that unless the bodies are removed by the families, the hospital may be forced to hand the bodies over to the government mortuary in Germiston from where they will be dispersed for burial as “paupers”.
“The hospital has done everything possible to trace the families of the deceased without success. This is despite soliciting further assistance from the SAPS to trace the families of the deceased on behalf of the hospital,” said Monaheng.
He explained that among the deceased are babies who were born at the hospitals’ maternity section but due to some medical condition, the babies had to remain behind for further medical treatment after their mothers were discharged after their birth.
Some of these babies later died during treatment and their bodies were never claimed, even though both their biological parents were informed.
The other unclaimed bodies are those of adults, both males and females, who were brought to the hospital by relatives and family members. But their bodies were never claimed after they died.
“Their families and relatives cannot be traced because the addresses some of them gave to the hospital when they were admitted, were either false or the deceased was unknown by people living at that address.
“In one such incident, Monaheng said after promising the hospital that they would come and fetch the body of their deceased family member from the hospital’s mortuary, the relative later turned around and informed the hospital that they were not related with the deceased and that they did not want to have anything to do with his burial. Sadly, such cases end up in the pauper’s grave,” explained Monaheng.
Among the unidentified cases, is that of:
• Male baby boy born Mary Simpini of 460 Sikhosana Section, Kathlehong, died on January 7, 2021. Both parents were informed of the baby’s death. Parents have since separated and no longer live together.
• Male baby boy Olwethu Khumalo of 8508 Phase 3. Died November 31, 2020. The father of the child was informed. The telephone number provided remains unanswered and both the child’s parents are untraceable.
• Baby girl Malibongwe Buthelezi. Died on the November 30, 2020. Both the address and cellphone numbers provided to the hospital remain untraceable.
• Baby girl, Almina Bila whose parents gave their address as 2003 Zone 3, Zone 4, Zonkizizwe. Both parents were invited by the hospital to apply for Burial Assistance. But none of them has responded.
• 64-year-old male, Hendrick Mnguni, whose address was given as 374 Marathon Squatter Camp in Germiston. Died on the November 8, 2020. He gave the names of people to be contacted in the event of his death as Tebogo, a neighbour and Tinose, a niece. Tebogo was informed of the death the same day and he promised to inform members of the family to collect the body for burial. Later he informed the hospital that the family does not know the deceased.
• 29-year-old male Lawrence George Mondlana. The address was given as 2100 Mathebula Street, Holomisa informal settlement. Addresses of relatives given as Sam Ndlovu who also lives at the same address in Holomisa Park. Pat, who lives in Zone 4, Diepkloof, Soweto. Both the hospital and the Dawn Park SAPS have assisted in locating these relatives without success.
Families who need to know more about any of the listed names should contact Joseph Monaheng at the Thelle Mogoerane Hospital on 082 558 9736.
