No end in sight for mortuary strike
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has expressed concern at the ongoing strike at mortuaries in Gauteng.
The party's Jack Bloom says the strike has had a devastating impact on families who have lost loved ones.
"The strike has dragged on for too long. The provincial government needs to get tough. We cannot have a situation where family members have to get a court orders in order to get an autopsy done to release the bodies."
He says although everybody is suffering, people of the Muslim and Jewish faiths are desperate.
"I know of at least three court orders by people to get bodies released. People of the Muslim and Jewish faith have to bury their loved ones within 24 hours after death."
He says the situation is becoming intolerable with a backlog of more than 200 bodies at state mortuaries.
"Bodies are being piled on top of each in the fridges and something needs to be done," he says.
Meanwhile, the Gauteng health department is continuing to negotiate with striking workers to try and find a resolution to the impasse.
Negotiations have so far deadlocked.