Joburg CBD fire: 62 out of 74 bodies burnt beyond recognition - GP Health Dept
The Gauteng Department of Health said all the recovered bodies were transferred to the Diepkloof Mortuary in Soweto, adding that only 12 of them are identifiable.
JOHANNESBURG – It has come to light that 62 out of 74 people who died in fire that tore through a five-story building in Marshalltown, in the early hours of Thursday morning, are burnt beyond recognition.
The Gauteng Department of Health said all the recovered bodies were transferred to the Diepkloof Mortuary in Soweto, adding that only 12 of them are identifiable.
VIDEO EXCLUSIVE: CCTV footage of Marshalltown building fire
Speaking just outside the mortuary on Friday, Gauteng acting CEO of pathology Thembalethu Mpahlaza said the unidentified bodies could only be traced through DNA from family members.
He added that they’re working to determine the cause of deaths.
“We have to subject those bodies to ascertain, maybe that none of them had gunshot wounds or bullets before they got burnt; that process is ongoing. We’re affected by the issue of load shedding last night [Thursday] which has caused delays in terms of finalising that process."
Thembalethu Mpahlaza, Acting CEO of Gauteng Forensic Pathology Services, said 62 bodies from the Johannesburg fire are unidentifiable while only 12 can be visually identified.
' EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) September 1, 2023
Mpahlaza was speaking outside the Diepkloof Mortuary where all the 74 bodies are being stored. TCG pic.twitter.com/LKrngpgEZ5
'NO FOREIGN NATIONS WILL BE DEPORTED FOR COLLECTING BODIES OF LOVED ONES'
Meanwhile, the Gauteng Department of Health has assured undocumented foreigners that they will not be deported when they collect the bodies of loved ones who died in the fire.
This comes as most of the building's occupants are believed to have been foreign nationals.
The department’s spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said their primary concern is releasing the bodies to their loved ones for burial.
“The issue of how we then manage that going further is something that is dealt with by other state organs, not necessarily by this particular department. the families need not fear they cannot come and identify their loved ones."
Modiba said the bodies must be claimed 30 days after being cleared by pathology services. Thereafter, they will be released to the Johannesburg Municipality for a paupers' funeral.
READ MORE:
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• Joburg CBD fire: ActionSA wants state to be charged with culpable homicide
• 'There needs to be law and order in the inner city' - Ramaphosa on JHB CBD fire
• Joburg CBD fire 'wake-up call' for govt to provide habitable housing - Ramaphosa
• Deadly Joburg CBD fire not an indication of a housing problem in SA – Ntshavheni
• Joburg CBD fire: Survivor recalls smelling smoke & reaching for infant grandkid
