​The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has noted with concern a misleading claim made by the Democratic Alliance and its MPL Madeleine Hicklin that they were excluded in the Gauteng Forensic Medical Services’ (FMS) Performance Review and Planning session held last week on 18 – 20 September in Boksburg. 

It is rather surprising that Ms Hicklin in the same statement where she acknowledges that the Health Portfolio Committee was not invited to the session somehow expected that she and another MPL should have been extended a special invitation when all other members were not invited. 

The claim that the MEC gave an address to a select few is rather unfortunate and a desperate attempt to cast aspersion on an internal operational and administrative review sessions which FMS had embarked which did not require the participation of Portfolio Committee members. 

Unfortunately, Ms Hicklin in her statement further deliberately misleads the public by creating an impression that Gauteng is sitting with a crisis of unclaimed bodies and indigent burials. 

As a public representative Ms Hicklin knows very well that the National Department of Health on 16 September briefed Parliament that as of end of August 2024 there were 3186 unclaimed bodies in state mortuaries. Gauteng Province was at 5th place accounting for 176 unclaimed bodies while the Western Cape was at 4th place with 299 unclaimed bodies with KwaZulu Natal, Eastern Cape and Limpopo having the largest numbers of unclaimed bodies respectively. 

The Department is in constant engagement with municipalities to accelerate the issue of pauper’s burial as this is a municipal competency. 

Furthermore, the GDoH continues to leverage technology to develop a comprehensive ICT strategy for the FMS operations. Currently, a provincial Digital Fingerprint System for tracing of unidentified bodies is being implemented. Other initiatives being explored include the implementation of the electronic tagging of the Forensic Pathology Service bodies to reduce the risk of handing over incorrect bodies, implementation of the electronic Content Management System for case files to enhance connectivity in dissection areas to expedite processes and the establishment of a 24-hour autopsy service to manage the growing caseload effectively. 

Ends//

Issued by the Gauteng Department of Health