SABC News reports that the National Education, health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) in the North West has called on the provincial health department to temporarily close the Brits Forensic Pathology Mortuary in the Madibeng Local Municipality.

The union claims the mortuary’s hygiene standards are not up to scratch. Workers at the mortuary embarked on a protest last week. They were demanding compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and for adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) to be provided. “The area is very stinking, workers are expected to work in a stinking working environment. There was no compliance as far as Occupational Health and Safety measures are concerned. And our members who are employees of the Department of Health in British Forensic Pathology were put in severe and unconducive working environment where the department is allowing more than 120 corpses in that forensic pathology,” the union’s provincial secretary, Ntombizodwa Moepeng explained. The department’s spokesperson, Lucas Mothibedi responded: “MEC Sello Lehari has directed that some bodies be referred or transferred to other mortuaries as a temporary solution. Deep cleaning has already been done to deal with the bad odor that was coming from the mortuary. We have agreed with the leadership of Nehawu and some workers who were protesting that the mortuary should be allowed to operate as the discussions and negotiations are at an advanced stage.”

• Read the original of the report in the above regard by Zebilon Maine at SABC News

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