Strike at forensics lab hinders burial
Family to arrange another cleansing ceremony
A KwaZulu-Natal family was forced to bury their loved one on Saturday without performing traditional rites.
This was after pathologists downed tools on Friday and couldn’t attend to bodies at Forensic Pathology Services in Diepkloof, Soweto.
Pathologists went on a goslow, demanding danger allowances‚ salary increases and recognition of prior learning and technical skills.
Siyakwethemba Mbuthuma yesterday said they did not cleanse her younger sister Nomnotho’s body as per their custom on Friday after it was released at 10pm.
“We arrived at the forensic pathology centre on Thursday and we were told that we should come back on Friday morning because workers are on strike.
“Then on Friday morning they said we should come back at night. We then demanded to see the management and eventually the MEC intervened,” Siyakwethemba said.
A cleansing is when they bathe a corpse in the bile of a cow or goat before a burial.
“She was supposed to be cleansed by the Shembe Church representatives and that didn’t happen because they (Shembe) don’t work on Saturday.
“The family is now arranging another cleansing ceremony where we need to slaughter a cow, goat and make home-brewed beer. And where are we going to get funds to buy those things?” he asked.
Nomnotho, 21, died on Tuesday after she was knocked down by a car while crossing a road near Protea Glen two weeks ago. She was in hospital for two weeks, but succumbed to her injuries.
“She was studying while working – that tells you she was someone focused,” Siyakwethemba said.
Nomnotho’s body was among five released to families on Friday after the intervention of Gauteng health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa.
Residents picketed outside the forensic centre on Friday demanding the bodies be released to families.
However, a Meadowlands family said they were given their relative’s body on Friday without any hassles and were not aware of the strike.
Gauteng health department spokesman Khutso Rabothata said: “The intervention was done with the interest of families that came from as far as KwaZulu-Natal‚ Limpopo and Lesotho, who had already arranged for transportation of their loved ones to their respective homes for burial this weekend.”
Ramokgopa hoped the matter would be resolved today.
The intervention was for families from Limpopo, KZN and Lesotho
Khutso Rabothata
GAUTENG HEALTH DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN