Question NW2421 to the Minister of Health

Reply:

1. Table 1 below indicates the current status of overcapacity in state mortuaries, as provided by provinces.

 

Table 1:

Province	Total number of State Mortuaries with over capacity
KwaZulu Natal	None
Limpopo	3
Mpumalanga	None
Northern Cape	1
Northwest	None

 

1. Even though all facilities in provinces have a back-up generator capacity, there are however, there increased expenditure costs due to diesel and maintenance of generators and this has an impact somewhat.

1. Table 2 below indicates the current status of unclaimed bodies at state mortuaries as provided by provinces.

Table 2

Province	Total number of unclaimed bodies
KwaZulu Natal	1362
Limpopo	136
Mpumalanga	54
Northern Cape	51
Northwest	174

1. No. There is continuous are discussions between Forensic pathology service, local municipalities, South African Police service with regards to unclaimed bodies.

Responses are still awaited from the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng and Western Cape Provinces. The updated information will be submitted as soon as it is received from these Provinces.

END.