DA warns of imminent strike action at PMB mortuary
The DA is warning that Pietermaritzburg's Fort Napier Forensic Mortuary is just days away from a full-blown strike.
The party's Imraan Keeka says workers at the mortuary have been on a go-slow for almost two weeks.
"On March, the 2nd, the Health Portfolio Committee visited the forensic pathology services at Fort Napier Hospital. We found the staff in a protracted meeting that lasts up until 1pm. That slow-go has resulted in at least 16 bodies piling up until now," Keeka said.
The party's Imraan Keeka says KZN Health made a U-turn on a commitment to back-pay forensic pathology officers and upscale their pay-grades.
He says full-blown industrial action needs to be avoided.
"The consequence of this means no post-mortems will be done, ad no bodies will be collected from accident and crime scenes. The entire work that this vital sector does will come to a standstill," he said.
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Health officials say they have been meeting with pathologists in an effort to address their concerns. Spokesperson, Ncumisa Mafunda says they're dealing with "deep seated issues".
"Any inconvenience to the public is highly regrettable. We will make plans to make sure the service is not disrupted," Mafunda said.