Government forensic pathologists are on a strike and as a result, postmortems are delayed in state mortuaries in Gauteng.<\/p>\n
The DA released a statement on March 13 revealing that the Germiston mortuary had 65 bodies piled up, making the mortuary the most affected by the illegal strike.<\/p>
\u201cAccording to a memorandum issued on March 8 by Professor Mac Lukhele, the acting head of the Gauteng Health Department, the forensic pathology officers embarked on an unprotected strike on March 7 by not carrying out their dissection and evisceration functions,\u201d said Jack Bloom, DA Gauteng shadow health MEC.<\/p>\n
Workers were allegedly given a final warning to resume their normal duties or face disciplinary action, because they are in contradiction of an interdict judgment by the Labour Court on December 5, 2016.<\/p>
It seems that the workers\u2019 grievances relate to unfulfilled promises after a strike in June 2016.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is very distressing for families to have to wait for the burial of their loved ones because of this illegal strike,\u201d says Bloom.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn one case, Naledzani Netshikulwe has been desperately trying to get the body of his nephew, who died on Thursday last week.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has written to me as follows: \u2018As a family, we need to collect the body, get the death certificate and then book the burial site, but we can\u2019t without post-mortem results.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope that the department shows resolve in curbing this strike and ensures that the agreement reached last year concerning workers grievances is properly implemented.\u201d<\/p>\n
The GCN requested comment from the Gauteng Department of Health and Khutso Rabothata, communications officer for the Deputy Minister of Health\u2019s office, said: \u201cThe department is still engaging the workers and their representatives on the matter.\u201d<\/p>\n
The GCN requested more comment from the department.<\/p>\n
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