Over 930 bodies unclaimed in Gauteng
As the number of unclaimed and unidentified bodies skyrockets in government morgues, the Gauteng Health Department has called on families and relatives of missing persons to visit Forensic Pathology Service mortuaries to check if loved ones are not part of unclaimed and unidentified bodies.
MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, says there are 938 unclaimed and unidentified bodies across 11 FPS mortuaries that families and relatives have not not come forth to claim.
“There are 938 unclaimed and unidentified bodies across 11 FPS mortuaries that families and relatives have not come forth to claim. The FPS mortuaries include Bronkhorstspruit (8), Ga-Rankuwa (69), Pretoria (263), Germiston (127), Heidelberg (9), Sebokeng (94), Springs (49), Carletonville (45), Diepkloof (49), Johannesburg (187) and Roodepoort (38),” the MEC explained.
MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko added that it is concerning that the number of unclaimed and identified bodies is increasing by the day.
“There are families who have been looking for their loved ones not knowing where they are. We encourage them to visit FPS mortuaries to check if their loved ones are not part of the unclaimed bodies, and if that is the case, they can give them a proper burial,” added the MEC.”
A family member or relative who wishes to identify their loved one should have their original Identity Document (ID), ID of the deceased or birth certificate if the deceased is a child. If the deceased is a foreign national, a passport, asylum seeker certificate or a letter from country of origin confirming who the deceased is and to whom the remains should be handed over to is needed.
Once a body of a deceased is not identified or claimed within seven days, fingerprints are sent to the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) Criminal Record Centre for identification and to the Department of Home Affairs for matching with their records.
MEC further indicated that If the identification process was successful, the next of kin are made aware of the deceased through the SAPS’s Investigating Officer for final release and burial or cremation.
“If the body is still unidentified 30 days after exhausting means of identification including the use of fingerprints, pauper burial processes are used for the final burial of the deceased.”