Labour department shuts down New Brighton mortuary where rats were eating bodies

The New Brighton Forensic Pathology Services Laboratory in Nelson Mandela Bay was shut down by the Department of Labour on Monday, 27 January after it was ruled an unsafe working place.

Among complaints highlighted by the labour union Hospersa was that rats were eating bodies that had been left on the floor because of overcrowding.

Personnel were moved to the Gelvandale and Mount Road forensic pathology facilities, according to the Eastern Cape Department of Health’s director of communications, Siyanda Manana.

He said a R23-million tender for maintenance at the New Brighton facility had to be “put on hold” after the department was hit with a R41-million damages order that had to be paid immediately.

Manana said there was a “pest control contract” at the facility and a general assistant was responsible for cleaning. But the cleanliness of the building was raised as a concern by the Department of Labour as was the presence of rats.

Manana said that the provincial Department of Health was “moving with speed” to address the concerns raised by the Department of Labour and the department was “looking for” R4-million to address flooring and drainage issues at the facility.

Read more: Majority of Eastern Cape state morgues in a shocking condition, health inspectors find

A Department of Labour inspector said: “Until the concerns are addressed, bodies will be dissected at the Gelvandale forensic pathology services facility to ensure there is service continuity. Employees from the New Brighton facility will also be temporarily moved to Gelvandale whilst the department implements the following measures:

“The department will appoint a service provider for deep cleaning and pest control using an existing contract from Livingstone Hospital.

“Two senior forensic pathology services officials have been sent to the New Brighton facility to oversee the process of addressing the issues. It is expected that by next week the issues raised would have been addressed.”

Dorothy Ndhlovu from Hospersa said the union had received reports from its members that rats were eating bodies at the mortuary.

“The bodies were left on the floor due to overcrowding and limited space. The floor was reportedly wet and covered in fluids that could be harmful. Members have consistently raised concerns about the poor working conditions, including the lack of staff at both the facility and within the Nelson Mandela Bay district, not to mention the broader issues within the Eastern Cape health department,” she said.

“As Hospersa, we raised this issue with management and escalated it to the Collective Bargaining Council, highlighting all concerns in line with the Occupational Health and Safety [OHS] Act. We also proposed the creation of a provincial OHS committee to monitor situations as they escalate from branches to districts.

“However, instead of taking action, the Department of Health has been dragging its feet on the matter. Every time we raise concerns about poor working conditions, we are told that the department lacks the funds or budget.”

Manana said: “A suitable contractor will be appointed to do decontamination at New Brighton and the process to procure such services has commenced.”

He said the tender to provide maintenance and upgrades at the New Brighton Unit had been revived.

“The department is looking to reprioritise funds to accommodate the repairs in a phased approach, starting with the New Brighton unit’s floor and drainage system upgrades.” DM