Families in the Free State are facing a heartbreaking situation as they are unable to bury their loved ones due to a backlog in autopsies. The Pheko family from Botshabelo recently buried their son and brother after waiting three long months for an autopsy to be performed. Ramorena Pheko expressed their frustration, stating, “The body of my brother was found in December and an autopsy was only done on 6 March. It still breaks our hearts that we had to wait so long.”
Similarly, the Kanono family from Thaba Nchu has been waiting for almost three weeks to know the cause of their son’s death. Thembani Kanono is yet to be buried as his family awaits the completion of the autopsy. Thabani Kanono shared their ordeal, saying, “We’ve been waiting for an autopsy since mid-February. We were told there are currently only two centres able to do autopsies in the Free State.”
The Free State Department of Health has attributed the backlog to the closure of the government mortuary in Bloemfontein. Autopsies are currently being conducted at the Botshabelo and Welkom facilities. The mortuary in Bloemfontein was shut down in October last year due to serious infrastructure failures identified by the Department of Labour. While the closure was meant to be temporary, there is no clear timeline for when the facility will reopen.
The backlog in autopsies is not only causing distress for families but also impacting funeral homes in the region. The owner of a funeral home in Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu expressed frustration, accusing workers of purposely delaying autopsies. He raised concerns about the prioritization of bodies from specific companies, causing delays in releasing bodies for burial.
Workers at the Botshabelo-based government mortuary have denied the accusations, with a pathologist known as “Tso” stating that they are working diligently to clear the backlog. He emphasized the need for additional facilities in the province to address the daily demand for autopsies.
In response to the crisis, the Free State Department of Health has reassured the public that they are actively working to resolve the challenges at the government mortuary. They acknowledge the significant implications of the backlog on funeral parlours and families and are committed to addressing the issue urgently. The department is taking all necessary measures to ensure the mortuary can resume its critical functions and clear the backlog promptly.
As families continue to wait for closure and funeral homes struggle with delays, the government’s efforts to resolve the autopsy backlog are crucial in providing much-needed relief to those affected by this challenging situation.
