The Department of Employment and Labour has taken action once again by shutting down a state-run mortuary in the Free State due to unsafe and unhygienic working conditions. This time, the inspectors visited the Forensic Pathology Service in Phuthaditjhaba and uncovered a range of occupational health and safety violations, including broken fridges and blocked sewage.
This is not the first time such a facility has been closed down in the Free State. In October 2024, the government mortuary in Bloemfontein faced similar issues, such as water leakages that posed a risk of electrocution and inadequate ventilation in the post-mortem room. Despite being briefly reopened in January, it was shut down again and only recently reopened in early May.
Whistleblowers within the facility raised concerns about the working conditions, with one labour department inspector stating that private mortuaries, despite being accused of keeping rotten bodies, were found to have well-functioning facilities. This prompted the inspection of the government mortuary in Phuthaditjhaba, where workers were found to be working in unacceptable conditions.
One worker, who chose to remain anonymous, mentioned that the blocked pipes were causing a foul smell in and around the mortuary, while the malfunctioning fridges were affecting the ability to conduct proper autopsies. The closure of the facility has also caused delays in burials, leaving families like the Nhlapo family waiting anxiously for the autopsy of their murdered son’s body.
The closure has also sparked anger among funeral parlour owners, who now have to travel long distances for autopsies due to the closure of the facility. The Provincial Chief Inspector of Employment and Labour, Luxande Manelisi, emphasized that the facility will remain closed until the Department of Health implements corrective measures to address the occupational health and safety violations.
The Free State Health Department has assured that they are working to address the challenges identified by the Labour department, and the MEC of Health in the Free State Province has instructed the head of department to take action. While the facility in Bloemfontein is now operational, families continue to face delays in receiving the bodies of their loved ones.
Despite the challenges, the Free State Health Department spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi, urges families to be patient as forensic pathologists are working hard to provide the necessary autopsies and release the bodies. The closure of the state-run mortuary highlights the importance of maintaining safe and hygienic working conditions in such facilities to ensure the health and safety of employees and the public.
