The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] in KwaZulu-Natal is vindicated and absolved by eNCA’s CheckPoint episode that appeared on the 11th September 2024 exposing the state of government mortuaries in KwaZulu-Natal.
The union is not shocked by the expose’ on the state of forensic pathology services because it confirms what we have been saying for the past few years. On several occasions, we have expressed our disgust and disappointment with the state and the working conditions our members are subjected to at various government mortuaries.
There are still unidentified bodies from the 2021 July unrest and the 2022 Durban floods lying at the mortuaries with absolutely no plan from the Department of Health. What is very disappointing is that instead of the Department acknowledging and fixing this damage that is compromising and placing the lives of our members at risk and the dignity of the corpses, the Head of Department, Dr Sandile Tshabalala continues to display arrogance and plead deliberate ignorance.
Our shopstewards have become victims for exposing these conditions by being charged and dismissed by the department. Among other things that were said by the union and confirmed by the episode is that:
• Mortuary fridges aren’t working most of the time.
• No Chemical to clean and disinfect, the mortuary smell is unbearable.
• Flies and Maggot on bodies due to high temperature on the fridges.
• Vehicles that are not roadworthy and some are overdue for service.
• Shortage of staff and vehicles.
• Low salaries even though they are doing jobs for four people.
• Outstanding payment of overtimes.
• Inadequate Personal Protective Equipment [PPEs]
• Staff members are not offered counselling even though the department alleges that there’s budget set aside for such services for the staff.
• Impact of closing Gale Street Mortuary.
The union will on the 20th September 2024 at Fort Napier through our Public Service Delivery Campaign handover a memorandum of demands to the MEC for Health. The union once again calls upon the MEC of Health, Ms Nomagugu Simelane to make an urgent intervention to these challenges facing the Forensic Pathology Services, otherwise release the HOD, Dr Tshabalala from his duties as he has demonstrated in the past five years that he isn’t capable in handling a strategic Department like the Department of Health.
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Issued by NEHAWU KwaZulu-Natal Secretariat Office
For more information, please contact: Ayanda Zulu (Provincial Secretary) at 081 758 5199 or email: Ayandaz@nehawu.org.za or Ntokozo Nxumalo (Provincial Deputy Secretary) at 0815255983 or email: Ntokozo@Nehawu.org.za