Daily News reports that the KwaZulu-Natal Funeral Directors’ Association has urged the Health Department to take drastic action against staff at the Park Rynie State Mortuary, who downed tools leaving 17 bodies unattended.  

Dhayalan Moodley, the association’s representative, said this was a “lack of respect” for the dead.  Moodley claimed that mortuary staff downing tools was also prevalent in Durban and Pinetown.  On Monday, mortuary staff at Park Rynie all reported in ill, forcing the department to move the 17 bodies to Port Shepstone.  Health MEC, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, assisted with conducting post-mortems in Port Shepstone on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Six staff members at the Port Shepstone mortuary also called in sick on Wednesday.  According to Dr Imran Keeka of the Democratic Alliance (DA), the staff grievances included disputes over roster times, days off and leave.  Phakama Ndunakazi of union Nehawu said there was no strike at the Park Rynie facility, but staff members were on a go-slow.

• Read this report by Samkelo Mtshali in full at Daily News

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