Question NW1336 to the Minister of Health
19 May 2023 - NW1336
Wilson, Ms ER to ask the Minister of Health
(1)(a) What total number of mortuaries in the Republic are adequately equipped to deal with load shedding to prevent bodies from decomposing and (b) what are the details of how they are equipped to deal with load shedding; (2) whether all bodies at each mortuary in the Republic are refrigerated; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether any of the mortuaries in the Republic experience problems with regard to space and/or refrigeration facilities; if so, in each case, what is the (a) name of the mortuary and (b)(i) province and (ii) town and/or city in which the specified mortuary is situated; (4) what (a) are the names of the mortuaries that experience shortages of (i) generators and (ii) fuel supply and (b) is the (i) province and (ii) town and/or city in which each specified mortuary is situated?
Reply:
1. (a) All mortuaries, Forensic and hospitals are adequately equipped to deal with loadshedding to prevent bodies from decomposing.
b) All Forensic mortuaries have a backup generator capacity and hospital mortuaries are linked also to the generator capacity of the hospital.
(2) Yes all bodies at both mortuaries are refrigerated.
(3) Table 1 below responds to Forensic pathology mortuaries with space and/or refrigeration challenges.
Table 1:
|
(i) Province |
(3)(a) Names of mortuaries that have specific issues with space and/or refrigeration facilities |
(2)(b)(ii) In which town/city |
|
Eastern Cape |
7 Mortuaries; Mthatha, Lusikisiki, Mount Frere, Bizana, New Brighton, Mount Road and Gelvandale potential to experience space issues related to unclaimed bodies. |
Mthatha FPS is in Mthata Lusikisiki is in Lusikisiki Mount Frere is in Mount Frere Bizana is in Bizana New Brighton is in Port Elizabeth Mount Road is in Port Elizabeth Gelvandale is in Port Elizabeth |
|
Free State |
None |
Not applicable |
|
KwaZulu-Natal |
10 Mortuaries: Port Shepstone, Harding, Estcourt, Newcastle, Madadeni, Nongoma, Vryheid, New Hanover, Richmond and Ladysmith have potential refrigerator challenges related to unclaimed bodies. Ladysmith has also space challenge |
Port Shepstone FPS is in Port Shepstone Harding FPS is in Harding New Hanover FPS is in New Hanover Vryheid FPS is in Vryheid Richmond FPS is in Richmond Ladysmith FPS is in Ladysmith Madadeni FPS is in Madadeni Nongoma FPS is in Nongoma Estcourt FPS is in Estcourt |
|
Gauteng |
3 Mortuaries: Roodepoort, Diepkloof and Johannesburg and have a potential space challenge due to increased intake. 4 Mortuaries: Heidelberg, Sebokeng, Springs and Pretoria have a potential refrigerator challenge due to increased intake. |
Roodepoort FPS is in Roodepoort Diepkloof FPS is in Diepkloof Johannesburg FPS is in Hillbrow. Heidelberg FPs is in Heidelberg Sebokeng FPS is in Sebokeng Springs FPS is in Springs Pretoria FPS is in Pretoria. |
|
Limpopo |
2 Mortuaries: Tshilidzini and Mokopane have space challenge due to unclaimed bodies. |
Tshilidzi FPS is in Thohoyandou. Mokopane FPS is in Mokopane |
|
Mpumalanga |
5 Mortuaries: Themba, Ermelo, Kwa Mhlanga, Lydenburg and Tintswalo have refrigerator challenges. |
Themba FPS is in Nelspruit Ermelo FPS is in Ermelo Kwa Mhlanga FPS is in Kwa Mhlanga Lydenburg FPS is in Lydenburg Tintswalo is in Acornhoek |
|
Northern Cape |
4 Mortuaries: De Aar, Portmansburg, Hartswater, Douglas FPS have challenges with refrigerators due to loadshedding surges. This led to Kimberley FPS reaching its maximum capacity in terms of storage space |
De Aar FPS is in De Aar Hartswater FPS is in Hartswater Douglas FPS is in Douglas Postmansburg FPS is in Postmansburg Kimberley FPS is in Kimberley |
|
Northwest |
2 Mortuaries: Mafikeng and Lichtenburg have space challenge due to inadequate infrastructure. |
Mafikeng FPS is in Mafikeng Lichtenburg FPS is in Lichtenburg |
|
Western Cape |
2 Mortuaries: Laingsburg has a space challenge. Ceres has a refrigerator challenge |
Laingsburg FPS is in Laingsburg Ceres FPS is in Ceres town |
(4) Table 2 below responds to Forensic pathology mortuaries with generators and fuel supply challenges.
|
(i) Province |
(4)(a)(i)(ii) names of the mortuaries that have generators, and fuel supply |
(4)(b)(ii) in which town and/or city and province is each specified mortuary located? |
|
Eastern Cape |
None |
Not applicable |
|
Free State |
Phuthaditjhaba FPS Mortuary problems with electricity supply and vandalisms, using adjacent hospitals (Phekolong and Dihlabeng) for storage |
Phuthaditjhaba FPS is in Phuthaditjhaba |
|
KwaZulu Natal |
Pinetown FPS needs generator that will supply power to the whole facility. Phoenix, Port Shepstone, Pietermaritzburg, Ladysmith, Dundee and Kokstad facilities experience fuel shortages sometime |
Pinetown FPS is in Pinetown Phoenix FPS is in Phoenix Port Shepstone FPS is in Port Shepstone Pietermaritzburg FPS is in Pietermaritzburg Ladysmith FPS is in Ladysmith Dundee FPS is in Dundee Kokstad FPS is in Kokstad |
|
Gauteng |
None |
Not applicable |
|
Limpopo |
None |
Not applicable |
|
Mpumalanga |
None |
Not applicable |
|
Northern Cape |
None |
Not applicable |
|
Northwest |
None |
Not applicable |
|
Western Cape |
None |
Not applicable |
END.