Families in the central Free State are unhappy after learning that the bodies of their loved ones have been moved from the Free State Government Mortuary in Bloemfontein to Welkom Mortuary, about 150 km away. The Bloemfontein mortuary was closed following a prohibition notice issued by the Department of Labour on 18 October 2024, due to serious infrastructure failures.

One of the affected families is that of the Maqalikas from Rouxville. Their son, Thato, was killed in a tavern fight over the weekend. His body was scheduled for an autopsy on Wednesday, but the family received a late notification on Tuesday night that his remains had been transferred to Welkom.

“We were ready to fetch the body of my son in Bloemfontein, but now we’ve been told his body has been moved to Welkom. This will cause us double costs,” says Thato’s mother, Selina Maqalika, who has been instructed to arrange for a hearse to transport the body from Welkom.

No Crisis

In a statement, the Free State Department of Health downplayed the situation, stating that there is no crisis in Mangaung (Bloemfontein).

“The Department of Health has made arrangements for the bodies that need to be dissected while the prohibition notice is in effect, to be taken to the Welkom Mortuary,” the statement reads.

“These bodies will be received from hospitals, accident scenes, and private undertakers, and stored in transit inside the fridges of the Forensic Pathology Truck stationed at the Free State Government Mortuary.”

The Forensic Pathology Truck, which can store more than 12 bodies overnight, will transport the corpses to Welkom and return them to families on the same day through private undertakers contracted by the next of kin.

Closure is Temporary

The prohibition notice cited key issues with the electrical, sewer, ventilation, and refrigeration systems at the Bloemfontein mortuary.

According to the health department’s statement, the critical issues identified are:

• Electrical Compliance: A contractor is on-site to address electrical defects. The air-conditioning/HVAC system and the electrical network were vandalised, resulting in the loss of large amounts of copper.
• Blocked Sewer Pipes: These were causing an unpleasant smell and are being repaired by plumbing services, with the Department of Public Works assisting with the toilets.
• Ventilation and Extraction Problems: The department has provided mobile air conditioners, which are being installed.
• Structural Safety: Structural engineers have assessed the facility and unblocked the drainage system.
• Waste Fridge Replacement: Quotations have already been sourced for a new waste fridge.

Workers at the mortuary say they have long raised concerns about the facility’s conditions. One worker, speaking anonymously, said the Department of Health should arrange transport and accommodation for them if they are expected to assist colleagues at the Welkom mortuary.

“Our contracts say we work in Bloemfontein. If we are requested to help those in Welkom, our conditions are clear. We need a place to stay and more money,” the worker says.

The department maintains it is handling the matter as humanely and dignified as possible. – Health-e News