'We jump over bodies'

2003-11-16 22:12

Sibonelo Msomi

Pietermaritzburg - KwaZulu-Natal's health department is to launch an investigation into the crisis at the Northdale Hospital's mortuary.

Bodies have been found lying on the floor instead of in wall-mounted trays.

According to an undertaker employee, mortuary officials say they are understaffed and it is easier to off-load bodies on the floor.

"It's not that mortuary trays are full. There are often empty trays on the shelves but these are seldom used.

"We always jump over bodies on the floor to pick up other bodies that we had come to fetch with relatives."

Co-director of Gama Funeral Services Thabani Gama said government mortuaries have always had problems of space and bad conditions.

"We raised the issue of space and bad conditions at state mortuaries with health inspectors and health MEC Dr Zweli Mkhize years ago. But we still have bodies lying on the floors of mortuaries.

"At least there was some action to renovate the mortuary at Edendale Hospital in 2001. Grey's Hospital's and Alexandra mortuaries are better, but Northdale?" he said.

The health department's Ronald Green-Thompson said last week that the department was not aware of the crisis, but would launch a full investigation.

- The Witness