Gauteng state mortuaries released three bodies erroneously in 2013 and 2014.
This information is revealed by Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu, in a written reply to Democratic Alliances (DA) Health Shadow MEC Jack Bloom questions in the Gauteng Legislature.
The three cases were as follows:
- Springs mortuary – body released wrongly on July 10, 2011
- Ga-Rankuwa mortuary – body released wrongly on April 14, 2014.
- Pretoria mortuary – body released wrongly on November 20,2014.
Mhlangu said, “In the Springs case, a final written warning was issued to an employee for misconduct.
“In the other two cases, the employees were charged with misconduct and disciplinary proceedings are still proceeding.”
Bloom said, “These three cases are disturbing but mercifully few.
“There is a danger of body parts being stolen for various purposes, as in the one case reported of body parts stolen at the Diepkloof mortuary on October 24, 2013, which involves a disciplinary case that has still not been finalised.”
“It is immensely traumatic for family if the body of a loved one is released erroneously to someone else, and there must be firm discipline and controls to prevent any further cases,” he said.
