South Africa’s government mortuaries are facing a significant challenge due to the high number of unclaimed bodies.
According to recent reports, there are approximately 3,000 unclaimed bodies in government mortuaries, with KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape having the highest numbers.
Dr. Thakadu Mamashela, Chairperson of the National Forensic Pathology Services Committee in Limpopo, revealed this information to the Portfolio Committee on Health in Parliament on September 18.
The forensic pathology mortuaries, responsible for conducting medico-legal investigations into de@ths, are struggling to cope with the sheer number of unclaimed bodies.
This issue is not new, as previous reports have highlighted the challenges faced by these mortuaries in identifying and releasing bodies to their families.
The Gauteng Department of Health has been working to address this issue through the development of a digital fingerprint system, which aims to identify unclaimed bodies more efficiently.
This system uses biometric scanners to link deceased individuals to databases from the Department of Home Affairs, South African Police Service, and National Credit Bureau.
Challenges in Identifying Unclaimed Bodies: – High murder rate: South Africa’s high murder rate contributes to the number of unclaimed bodies.
– Undocumented foreign nationals:
The presence of undocumented foreign nationals makes identification more difficult.
– Limited resources: Mortuaries face resource constraints, exacerbating the issue.
Efforts are being made to improve the identification process and provide closure for families of the deceased.
However, the scale of the problem requires sustained attention and innovative solutions to address the underlying challenges.
