Durban Mortuary Shocker

Durban's Gale Street Mortuary boss has been suspended with immediate effect and parts of the mortuary shut down after a body mix-up and the discovery of rodent bite marks on bodies.

KwaZulu-Natal health department spokesman, Desmond Motha yesterday said the manager had failed to "give leadership on numerous occasions in cases pertaining to her duties".
"Over the weekend, health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo had to intervene when employees at the facility refused to assist a family that had earlier identified and taken the wrong corpse for burial.

"The MEC learnt of the family's plight after they went to the SABC studios on Saturday night because they did not know what else to do with the corpse.

"The MEC learnt of the family's plight after they went to the SABC studios on Saturday night because they did not know what else to do with the corpse. File photo

"The MEC later discovered the junior officials had sought the advice of the facility manager - who did not act."

Motha said the latest complaint related to bodies that had "been violated by rodents inside the mortuary".

The first case was discovered earlier this month and three bodies later showed similar injuries.

"Further inspection of the facility revealed the rubber on the cold room door had bite marks from what were suspected to be rodents."

Affected sections of the mortuary have been closed.

Dhlomo said members of his department had to operate in a sensitive environment.

"We need people who will appreciate that even the departed have a right to dignity. We cannot keep a manager who fails to show leadership and cannot take decisive action to resolve challenges."