TimesLive reports that the defence force has deployed medical officers to perform autopsies as bereaved families clamour to retrieve the bodies of loved ones from strike-hit mortuaries in Gauteng.  

Ten operational emergency care practitioners from the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) are working at mortuaries in Hillbrow‚ Germiston and Diepkloof.  Forensic pathology officers have been on strike for two weeks at more than a dozen mortuaries across the province demanding better remuneration‚ counselling sessions‚ a danger allowance and the reinstatement of debriefing sessions from the Department of Health.  Bodies have not been released from the facilities due to the strike, which has caused untold anguish.  A Department of Defence spokesman said extra military healthcare practitioners would be sent to assist if needed.

• Read this report by Neo Goba in full at TimesLive
• See too, Costly morgue dispute, on page 1 of The New Age of 15 June 2017
• And also, Mortuary workers’ strike should ‘serve as wake-up call to health department’, at EWN

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page