Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla confirmed during a recent Parliamentary Q&A that South African mortuaries are struggling with the presence of over 2,000 unclaimed bodies.
Mortuaries in South Africa are harbouring more than 2,000 unclaimed bodies
According to the data provided by Dr Phaahla, recorded on 15 March 2024, a total of 2,091 bodies have not been claimed across various provinces.
KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) tops the list with a staggering 1,336 unclaimed bodies.
Following far behind are Limpopo and North West with 283 and 266 bodies respectively.
Other provinces like Mpumalanga, Free State, and Northern Cape have fewer cases, with 82, 73, and 51 unclaimed bodies reported.
Notably, no unclaimed bodies are reported in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and Gauteng.
What happens to a corpse if it is unclaimed?
The process for handling unclaimed bodies is strictly regulated under the Regulations Regarding the Rendering of Forensic Pathology Service.
Specifically, sections 43 and 44 of the regulation outline the required actions for such cases. A body that is not identified must be moved to a freezer within seven days of admission to a mortuary.
If it remains unidentified after 30 days, the municipal council responsible for the area where the mortuary is located must arrange a pauper burial.
Additionally, the regulation mandates that the person in charge of the mortuary must ensure detailed records of the unidentified body are maintained.
This includes taking a photograph, fingerprints, and a sample of blood or tissue to help in possible future identification.