More than 900 unclaimed bodies are piling up in KwaZulu-Natal mortuaries, creating a shocking crisis for families and authorities alike. Image: iStock.
(The Post News) – A troubling situation has come to light in KwaZulu-Natal: more than 900 unclaimed bodies remain unidentified in government mortuaries. Some of these have been stored for years, with a few dating back as far as 2017.
The issue was uncovered during a recent inspection by the provincial health committee. During their visits to several facilities, they found that the growing number of unclaimed bodies is putting pressure on both space and resources.
As a result, families who have lost loved ones and have not yet found them are being urged to contact the police. Doing so could help match missing persons with those who remain unidentified, while also easing the burden on overstretched morgue services.
In South Africa, the law allows mortuaries to hold unclaimed bodies for up to 30 days. After that period, if no one comes forward and the person cannot be identified, the local municipality arranges a government-funded burial. These are basic funerals, often in public cemeteries, conducted with minimal ceremony.
Before burial, however, forensic teams collect fingerprints, photographs, and DNA samples for record-keeping. This ensures that, even later, there remains a chance to match the person if someone comes forward to identify them.
The Growing Challenge of Unclaimed Bodies in Mortuaries
Nevertheless, the overcrowding in forensic centers is becoming a serious challenge. With limited space and an increasing backlog of unclaimed bodies, staff are struggling to manage the situation.
Authorities are therefore hoping that more people will come forward, both to reduce pressure on mortuaries and to bring long-awaited closure to families still searching for answers.
Please share your thoughts contact Thembeka via email: Journalist-thembeka@thepostnews.net
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