REASON FOR CLOSURE

THE Department of Health has confirmed that the Magwaza Maphalala (Gale) Street Mortuary was officially closed for admitting bodies on March 20, and the staff and services were distributed to mortuaries in Phoenix, Pinetown and Park Rynie.

Over the years, the mortuary had faced several challenges: recruitment and retention of medical staff; an unstable workforce with frequent labour unrest; staff grading challenges; infrastructure problems; overtime management; poor staff attitude; paupers’ burials; and unfavourable Public Protector reports.

In recent months, employees embarked on several strikes, mainly because of the re-employment of an allegedly abusive manager.