Unclaimed corpses in mortuaries of the Department of Health’s continue to pile up and 22 persons had to be given pauper’s burials at the end of last month. The situation is expected to continue as long as families don’t visit mortuaries to check for lost relatives.
Health MEC spokesperson, Thabiso Teffo said in November last year 14 unclaimed bodies were buried after the processes of identification were concluded by the Police and no family members could be traced. The Police gave authorisation to bury the bodies as paupers, he stated.
He further indicated that to date 14 bodies were awaiting identification, seven for the process to begin and the other seven for final identification results.
Teffo went on to say three bodies were awaiting authorisation for disposal as paupers by the Police making the total number of unclaimed bodies 17 at the Pietersburg Provincial Hospital. He added that the problem of unclaimed corpses will continue to be a nightmare for the department especially when an increase in such cases cause a backlog.
Late last year, the Pietersburg Provincial Hospital topped the list of unclaimed bodies most of which suspected to be that of foreign nationals.
Teffo stressed that it was difficult to trace foreigners’ families, especially if the deceased did not posess legal documents.
In November, approximately 200 corpses had not been claimed with the major contributing factor being that the investigation process conducted by the Police took time, Teffo explained. He called on families looking for loved ones to visit government mortuaries.
Story: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za
