HEALTH & SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

SUBJECT: REPLY TO A QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY From: THE MEC FOR HEALTH & SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT To: ALL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE (MPLS)

Reference: QUESTION 5.HL&SS049

Mr V Skosana
Secretary to the Legislature
Private Bag X52
Johannesburg
2000

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO A QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY (5.HL&55049)

Dear Mr Skosana

Herewith, are written responses to question 5.HL&SSO49 tabled by Mr J B Bloom
of the Democratic Alliance (DA),

5. HL&SSo4. With regard to the state mortuaries in Gauteng, will the MEC please indicate:

(i) How many bodies were unidentified in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 respectively;

2006 1640
2007: 1624
2008: 1652
2009: 1445

(ii) How many bodies were unidentified from January to August this year;

846

(iii) What accounts for any trends in this regard;

• Many of the unidentified bodies are foreign nationals, therefore their relatives cannot be traced.
• People who come to Gauteng for job opportunities from other provinces and have lost contact with their families.
• Families who do not have the funds to bury the deceased.

(iv) Whether the website to assist identification of bodies is fully functional;

No

If not, why not:

The National Department of Health, Forensic Pathology Services introduced the Mortuary Management System which was rolled out to all Provinces. The Gauteng Department of Health and Social Development intended to include the website as part of this process.

(vi) In what aspects is it still deficient;

The source code, which is required, to make changes on the system, has not been made available to all Provinces, except the Western Cape.

(vii) What steps are being taken to get it fully operational;

The National Department of Health, Forensic Pathology Services is dealing with the matter, unfortunately no timeframes have been given as to when the matter will be resolved.

(viii) What is the average cost to bury an unidentified body;

These costs are borne by the local municipalities.

(ix) How many bodies of road accident victims were there in the year 2005, the year 2006, the year 2007,the year 2008 and 2009 respectively; and

• 2005: No records, the service was rendered by the SAPS
• 2006: 3784
• 2007: 4327
• 2008: 4006
• 2009: 3961

(x) How many bodies of murder victims were there in year 2005, year 2006, year 2007, year 2008 and year 2009 respectively?

• 2005: No records, the service was rendered by the SAPS
• 2006: 3708
• 2007: 3794
• 2008: 4095
• 2009: 3950

MS OD MAHLANGU
MEC: HEALTH AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
DATE: 07/10/2010

Note: Transcribed from PDF. Please check against original.

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