STINKY MORTUARIES IN GAUTENG

Foul smelling air permeates a number of Gauteng state mortuaries that are short of ozone generators to clean the air.

According to a written reply by Gauteng Health MEC Hope Papo to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature, 94 ozone generators are needed to fully service Gauteng's 11 mortuaries.

Johannesburg mortuary is the worst affected - it has 26 ozone generators, but needs 45 more. The Germiston mortuary is also very smelly -it needs 18 more ozone generators.

Other mortuaries need the following number of ozone generators:

Pretoria  - 7

Garankuwa - 6

Springs  - 5

Roodepoort - 4

Heidelberg - 4

Bronkhorstspruit - 3

Carletonville - 2

Mortuary workers and visitors have had to endure appalling smells in the worst affected mortuaries. I am happy that the department says that ozone generators, which cost R16 530 each, are currently being procured.

This unhygienic situation should have been attended to far earlier.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Health Spokesman, October 3 2013

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