Today, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng was denied access to conduct an oversight inspection at the Hillbrow mortuary. This follows numerous complaints the DA received regarding the conditions in which bodies are kept at the mortuary.
According to a whistleblower, Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) regulations are not being followed. Drains are clogged, and there is blood all over the floor, which attracts rats that can eat the decomposing flesh off bodies.
In a recent case, a woman approached the DA after a nearly two-year delay in burying her loved one due to a mix-up at a state mortuary in Soshanguve. The body had not been kept at the proper temperature, necessitating DNA extraction from the teeth to confirm the identity.
To prevent rapid decomposition, fridges need to be set to between minus two degrees and minus five degrees, while freezers need to be at least minus 20 degrees.
If the fridges and freezers are not kept at the temperature, this leads to bodies decomposing rapidly.
OHS protocols mandate that an officer be on duty at all times, both to ensure personnel safety and to maintain the appropriate storage and preservation conditions for bodies. This officer is also responsible for ensuring that fridges and freezers are in proper working order
To prevent the spread of disease, the mortuary floors, fridges and freezers need to be cleaned with a high-pressure cleaner and not a bucket and a mop. There must also be adequate storage for the disposal of sharp objects like needles and scalpels in a bio-hazard or hazardous waste container.
The DA’s denied access to the Hillbrow mortuary raises further concerns about the conditions in which forensic pathologists are forced to work. The DA will escalate this issue through the Portfolio Committee on Health to seek accountability and improve standards.