Question NW3351 to the Minister of Health
03 November 2023 - NW3351
Smalle, Mr JF to ask the Minister of Health
With reference to his reply to question 3081 on 22 September 2023, why (a) were the deceased taken to the Diepkloof Government Mortuary and not to Hillbrow; (b) were families of the deceased charged R700 for the release of bodies from the Diepkloof Mortuary, what (c) is the capacity of (i) Diepkloof Mortuary, (ii) Hillbrow Mortuary and (iii) Roodepoort Mortuary and (d) number of bodies are still at the respective mortuaries as at 1 September 2023?
Reply:
(a) According to the Gauteng Department of Health, bodies were taken to both Hillbrow (Johannesburg) and Diepkloof Forensic mortuaries for the following reasons.
- The Diepkloof Forensic Mortuary was used for the postmortem examinations. It was also as a central storage for bodies so that families can access one central point for identification of family members.
- The Hillbrow (Johannesburg) Mortuary was used to conduct advanced scientific investigations such as DNA harvesting, Fingerprint Taking and use of the LODOX/ X-Ray services.
(b) The Gauteng Department of Health did not charge any family money for the release of the bodies. The following are free services provided by Forensic Pathology Services: Body Autopsy, DNA collection, Histology, Toxicology, and Anthropology examination.
(c) Table 1 below indicates responses to (i)(ii) and (c) and (d)
|
Mortuary name |
(c)Capacity |
(d) Bodies in the mortuary as of 1 September 2023 |
|
(i) Diepkloof |
300 |
205 |
|
(ii) Hillbrow |
200 |
160 |
|
(iii) Roodepoort |
100 |
84 |
END.