​The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) would like to urge individuals who have allegedly been asked to pay for the release of deceased loved ones at the Diepkloof Forensic Pathology Service to report the matter to the police. 

This comes after the Department learned through media reports of allegations that some of the family members of the victims of the Johannesburg inner-city building fire were asked to pay R700 for the release of their loved ones from the Diepkloof government mortuary. 

It must be pointed out that the Gauteng FPS renders free services when it comes to storage of the bodies and conducting of post-mortems. Even the DNA samples that have been drawn from the unidentifiable bodies of the tragic fire incident and the Antemortem swabs from families are free and being done by the South African Police Service (SAPS). 

The GDoH therefore urges people who are being asked to pay for storage or the release of deceased bodies at Diepkloof mortuary or any Gauteng FPS facility to report these criminal acts to the SAPS so that the perpetrators can be brought to book. 

Alternatively, the public can report such incidents to the Gauteng Provincial Government hotline through the toll-free number on 0800 203 886 or direct line during office hours on 0113553048/0112415707. 

In addition, the Department would like to put in on record that none of the families that have already collected their deceased loved ones from the Diepkloof mortuary were asked to pay any amount. 

Ends/ 

Issued by the Gauteng Department of Health