An identification system linked to a website and more publicity on indigent burial assistance is needed for the hundreds of unclaimed bodies in Gauteng state mortuaries, the Democratic Alliance said on Monday.
DA health spokesperson Jack Bloom said there were 607 unclaimed bodies — 582 of which had not yet been identified — in mortuaries in the first five months of this year.
”There has been an unacceptable delay in setting up an internet website to assist relatives in identifying bodies.”
Gauteng health department spokesperson Zanele Mngadi said a website would be operational within the next six months. She said ”technical issues” had held up its launch.
Bloom said that 25 of the identified bodies were still unclaimed ”probably because the family was too poor to afford burial”.
In 2006, there were 1 584 unclaimed bodies in Gauteng, 1 485 in 2005 and 1 880 bodies in 2004.
The figures were released by Gauteng provincial health minister Brian Hlongwa in a written reply to questions, he said.
Said Bloom: ”The website identification system should be set up as soon as possible, and there should be more publicity about the assistance that municipalities can provide for indigent burial.”
Many bodies were those of foreigners, he said. – Sapa