3 April 2006
Government reviewed the services provided by medico-legal mortuaries or what was called state mortuaries.
The service was fragmented and uncoordinated and Cabinet decided to transfer the medico-legal mortuaries to the Department of Health. This will ensure separation and autonomy of forensic services and ensure that a comprehensive service is rendered.
As from April 2006, the forensic mortuaries have been vested under the authority of provincial Departments of Health, including personnel, equipment and other logistical services. The transfer process will usher, for the first time, the establishment of the country's first comprehensive Forensic Pathology Service.
A Directorate has been established at the National Department to oversee the service. An assessment of the current service has been conducted and challenges in capacity to deliver quality service were identified including:
An emergency maintenance and upgrading project is in progress including the purchasing of urgently required equipment and vehicles with a budget of R72 million.
A modernisation plan to improve the quality of the forensic service has been developed. The plan includes the refurbishment of some of the selected mortuaries and the building of new ones. More than R1, 5 billion has been allocated for the implementation of the plan over the next three years.
A total of 1349 non-medical vacancies have been advertised in all provinces and some appointments have already been made, while others are in the process. As part of the skill retention strategy, an agreement has been reached with our SAPS counterparts to give the serving police officers in the mortuaries first preference to apply before posts were advertised nationally.
The transfer process is very crucial as a first step towards the overhauling and transforming of our medico-legal service. Medico-legal mortuaries are a critical component of the criminal justice system. It is crucial that our forensic investigations meet internationally accepted norms and that these investigations are performed in an accountable and transparent manner.
In the case of a non-natural death, the police will conduct their criminal investigation at the scene. The forensic officers under the employ of the Department of Health will do an assessment of the scene of death and collect all the information that may assist the forensic pathologists in investigating the cause of death.
The Police will give permission for forensic officers to take custody of the body and to remove it to the mortuary. The police will give permission for the body to be released for burial.
A memorandum of understanding has already been signed between the Department of Health, SAPS and the Department of Public Works to ensure a smooth transfer and clearly define the functions and mandate of all the departments involved. I would like to thank particularly the SAPS for the support provided during this transfer process
Thank you
Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang
Minister of Health