EDITOR’S NOTE

WHILE the conduct of the Zondi clan in storming the Fort Napier mortuary in Pietermaritzburg and snatching the body of their relative cannot be condoned, it is a sure indication of the desperation being felt by bereaved families around the province affected by the ongoing go-slow by morgue workers in the province.

This, unfortunately, has been a recurring theme on our news pages and in this column because, despite all the platitudes being mouthed by Health MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, we appear no closer to a resolution of the crisis – for that is what is it is – than we were when it first surfaced.

Dhlomo has repeatedly expressed sympathy for the affected families and said there were contingency plans in place to address the situation, without detailing what these were.

From our observations, thus far these have amounted to him personally performing a few autopsies and promising families to release bodies, only to have them stand in the heat all day and go home empty-handed.

Can Dhlomo not appeal to his colleagues in other provinces to lend him some staff while he actually finds a way out of the impasse?

And at what point will Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi come down from his tower and intervene?

It is an absolute shame that the trauma of mourning families is prolonged and exacerbated while Dhlomo and his staff play a game of who blinks first.