Number of unclaimed bodies in Gauteng morgues up 60%

While there has been a decline in the number of unidentified bodies in Gauteng state mortuaries over the last three years‚ there has been an increase in unclaimed bodies.

The number of unclaimed bodies has risen by just over 60% from the 242 reported between April 1‚ 2012 to March 31‚ 2013 to 403 for the same period ending in March 2015‚ the Democratic Alliance’s Jack Bloom said.

Unidentified bodies tallied 1603 and 1272 for the corresponding respective periods.

Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu reportedly told the legislature that the main reasons for unclaimed and unidentified bodies were:

- Lack of authentic identification documentation;

- Foreign nationals and South Africans from other provinces who travel without ID documents; and

 - Socio-economic reasons including resource constraints for burial and distance from family.

Bloom quoted Mahlangu as also saying that the Gauteng Forensic Pathology “is currently developing a comprehensive mortuary management system targeting January 2016 for completion with first phase piloting for February 2016”.

“I hope that an internet system is implemented soon so that bodies can be identified in this way‚ rather than relatives going to each mortuary‚ which is very traumatic and time-consuming‚” Bloom said.