Gauteng Health investigates alleged sale of corpses

04 Nov 2013

Gauteng Department of Health MEC, Hope Papo has announced that investigation has been instituted against officials implicated in allegations of selling bodies at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.

This follows accusations that a body was sold to an undertaker for R800 and officials were in possession of undertaker stamps without permission. It is also claimed that another body was released from the hospital's mortuary to a funeral undertaker without the family's consent.

The matter on the alleged selling of the body is currently under investigation by Labour Relations. All three officials who are implicated in this case have been relieved of their duties and transferred to different units as a precautionary measure.

A preliminary investigation was conducted by the hospital on the matter about the body that was released without permission and a report which noted possible irregularities within mortuary was forwarded to Chief Directorate Risk Management, requesting a comprehensive forensic review into the matter. The matter was referred to Gauteng Audit Services for forensic audit. The forensic audit was instituted and is currently in progress.

Upon completion of the forensic audit, management will act appropriately as per the recommendations of the forensic audit and if the report deems it necessary to press criminal charges against any staff member such action will be undertaken.

"The Department takes such allegations in a serious light and will not hesitate to take harsh measures against any employee who is found guilty of misconduct said MEC Papo.

Statement issued by Simon Zwane, Gauteng Health, November 5 2013

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter