Question NW684 to the Minister of Health
02 April 2024 - NW684
Hicklin, Ms MB to ask the Minister of Health
What is the (a) policy for unclaimed bodies and (b) current total number of unclaimed bodies at government mortuaries in each province?
Reply:
a) Policy of Unclaimed Bodies
Regulation 341 of 2005: Regulations Regarding the Rendering of Forensic Pathology Service, sections 43 and 44 of the make provision that:
43. A body not identified must be moved to a freezer within seven days of admission, and if such body remains unidentified for 30 days, the municipal council under whose jurisdiction the designated facility is, must ensure that a pauper burial for such body is undertaken.
44. The person in charge of a facility where there is an unidentified body must ensure that complete details of such body, including a photograph, fingerprints, and blood or tissue sample, are taken from the body and archived.
b) Table 1: Total number of unclaimed bodies per Province as of 15 March 2024
|
Province |
Number of unclaimed bodies |
|
Free State |
73 |
|
KwaZulu-Natal |
1336 |
|
Limpopo |
283 |
|
Mpumalanga |
82 |
|
Northen Cape |
51 |
|
Northwest |
266 |
|
Western Cape |
|
|
Eastern Cape |
|
|
Gauteng |
|
|
Total |
2091 |
END.