After giving birth to a baby who died shortly thereafter, Ntsekiseng Gabela was forced to search for the body in the hospital mortuary, but when she found him the staff refused to release the body.
Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng MEC Health Shadow Jack Bloom said, “I welcome the Gauteng Health Department‘s action in suspending the clerk and three mortuary assistants while investigations are underway into this distressing incident.
“There have been three acknowledged cases in the past two years of wrong bodies released from Gauteng state mortuaries.
“There may be other cases, however, where mistakes were not picked up for various reasons.
“Mortuary staff also needs sensitivity training which was clearly not in evidence at the Bheki Mlangeni Hospital.
“Gabela is still traumatised by her experience in searching for her dead child amongst other dead bodies.
“No family should ever be subjected to extra trauma after losing a loved one,” he said.
Bloom added that the department should review procedures and training at all state mortuaries to prevent any future such incidents.
Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu said that she will make sure that appropriate action is taken after an investigation into the death of a newborn baby at a hospital in Jabulani.
Four staff members have since been suspended and Mahlangu said, “What happened at the facility is unacceptable.
“People are getting a raw deal because of the employees who have decided to be a law unto themselves at the expense of the public and at the expense of the people who solely depend on the state.”
Gabela said, “While the Health Department has suspended the staff members, I want stronger action.
“I am not satisfied because being suspended means you’re going to come back; you’re not fired, you’re suspended.”
She said that no family should experience the ordeal she was forced to go through.
