An investigation is underway into how 42 corpses were being transported in an open trailer.
The wheel of the trailer dislodged and got stuck on the M1 south in Johannesburg.
The bodies were being transported from Charlotte Maxeke Hospital to the Olifantsvlei Cemetery for paupers’ burial.
Johannesburg Metro Police say the driver of the trailer did not have any documentation proving that they are a registered mortuary or any hospital documentation to move the bodies.
Two lanes on the M1 remained closed to traffic for most of the afternoon after a undertaker trailer carrying the bodies lost a wheel on the freeway, bringing traffic to a standstill.
When JMPD officers went to assist the broken-down vehicle, they discovered 16 adult corpses and 24 stillborn babies, allegedly en route a cemetery in Eldorado Park for a paupers funeral.
The Gauteng Health Department has expressed regret and has vowed to get to the bottom of the matter.
The Department’s Lesemang Matuka says a full investigation will be launched to establish why the bodies were being transported in an open trailer.
“The department regrets what happened on Wednesday. We are so sorry about the incident. The department will launch a full investigation into this matter to establish the facts.”
Medupe Modisane, from the Gauteng Pathology Service, has confirmed it was going to take some time before the bodies could be taken to the cemetery for paupers burial due to police investigations.
“So, the trailer is stuck on the highway, but the corpses are still intact on the trailer in their own coffins. So (we) are waiting to move the corpses onto our forensic pathology van off the highway to the burial site. Unfortunately, because it’s an incident, the police have to be involved. So, we’re waiting for police to finish their investigations before we can load the bodies.”
Joburg Metro Police says the driver could not produce any documentation for transporting the bodies, or for the undertaker that he worked for.
MMC for Public Safety in the City of Johannesburg, Michael Sun, says, “What concerns us is that on investigation with the driver of the van, he couldn’t produce any documentation, either from the hospital that he claims to have uplifted the bodies or any papers to show that they are a proper undertaking company. We just want to express our concern at this incident as the bodies were transported in such a way that it is not only unsafe and unhygienic, but it shows disrespect for the families of the deceased.”
Democratic Alliance Shadow Minister of Health, Jack Bloom says proper care needs to be taken when transporting bodies and that unidentified and unclaimed bodies must be treated with respect.
Bloom hopes the deceased can now be laid to rest with dignity.
“I’m really horrified by this incident. I think the Gauteng Health Department needs to conduct a full investigation. Why did this driver not have the proper documentation? I think there needs to be proper respect for the dead and proper arrangements, even if these are paupers burials. I think the department needs to give us the answers as to why this happened in the first place.”
Two of the affected lanes on the M1 highway will remain closed to traffic until the valid documentation can be produced and police conclude their investigation into the incident.
