​The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has for many years been overwhelmed with unclaimed and unidentified bodies at its 11 Forensic Pathology Service (FPS) mortuaries due to in ability to identify the deceased and locate their families.

As part of efforts to address this challenge and ensure that families can give their loved ones a dignified send-off the GDoH’s FPS has introduced a digital fingerprint system to improve the quality of fingerprints collected and immediate identification of the deceased.

This innovation is in partnership with the Centre for Public Service Innovation and Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. It uses biometrics technology and has access to the Department of Home Affairs, South African Police Service and National Credit Bureaus database to identify deceased bodies.

The MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko will on Thursday, 13 July 2023 launch this digital innovation in Germiston, and will also demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of the fingerprint system. 

Members of the media are invited to the launch as follows: 

Date: 13 July 2023 

Time: 10h00 

Venue: Germiston Police Station, 10 Long Street, Germiston 

To confirm attendance, contact Koketso Maraba on Koketso.Maraba@gauteng.gov.za or 083 373 7326 or healthmediaenquiries@gauteng.gov.za.