FAMILIES who lost loved ones in the fire that broke out in a hijacked building in the Joburg CBD on Thursday, 31 August, can now identify the bodies at the Diepkloof mortuary, Soweto.
Affected families will be able to go to the mortuary from Friday morning, 1 September. The mortuary is also expected to be open on Saturday, 2 September and Sunday, 3 September from 9am until 3pm.
Following the tragic incident, at least 74 bodies, including 12 children, were processed by the Gauteng Forensic Pathology Service (FPS) mortuary in Diepkloof.
The bodies include 40 men, 24 men and 10 who are undetermined as they were burnt beyond recognition, as well as four body parts that were also found.
This was announced by the Gauteng Department of Health, who further advised that families wishing to identify the bodies must bring relevant documentation.
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"A family member or relative who wishes to identify their loved one should have their original identity document (ID) and ID of the deceased or birth certificate if the deceased was a child.
"If the deceased is a foreign national, we require a passport, asylum seeker certificate or a letter from the country of origin confirming who the deceased is and to whom the remains should be handed over to," health department spokesman Motalatale Modiba.
Modiba said bodies that were burnt beyond recognition and have no fingerprints will be identified through a DNA process.
At least 74 people died and 52 others were injured when a fire broke out in a building in Joburg CBD.
The fire destroyed a five-storey building on the corner of Albert and Delvers streets.
The building, Usindiso, was meant to be a shelter for abused women and children, but over the years it has been occupied by shacks dwellers.
About 16 of the injured patients were discharged, 17 were admitted and others are still being treated in health facilities around Joburg, including the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, South Rand Hospital, Helen Joseph Hospital, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, as well as Tembisa Hospital.
Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko has since visited patients admitted to hospitals, some of whom have suffered burns, multiple fractures and smoke inhalation.
"As soon as we learnt about the incident, we immediately activated our emergency protocols to ensure that we respond as quickly as possible to those who needed medical attention.
"Gauteng Emergency Medical Services has been on the scene and contributed to the emergency and rescue efforts as part of the provincial disaster management response.
"We have also deployed counselling and other psycho-social support services to compliment interventions from the City of Joburg and the Provincial Department of Social Development," said Nkomo-Ralehoko.
