Number of unclaimed bodies in mortuaries piling up

AN OVERSIGHT visit to a state mortuary emphasised the urgent need for public campaigns to encourage reporting missing loved ones to the police, to reduce unclaimed bodies prevalence.

- THOBEKA NGEMA

This came to light during a recent oversight visit by the KZN Legislature Portfolio Committee on Health.

Committee chairperson Dr Imran Keeka said the oversight visits were prompted by the most number of complaints, from Park Rynie Mortuary and Phoenix Forensic Mortuary.

“People have complained to us that the staff are rude, and they don’t get their loved ones on time,” Keeka said.

He said they wanted to look at infrastructure, prolonged storage of bodies, and issue resolution in public interactions.

“At the Park Rynie Mortuary, we found a few infrastructure issues, and minor infrastructure issues that needed attention,” Keeka said.