The Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) has welcomed the reduced waiting period for Muslim bodies to be released from state mortuaries.
A recent backlog at the Salt River and Tygerberg morgues sparked concern among Muslim families who had to wait up to a week or more to bury their loved ones.
At the time, the Western Cape Health Department said the backlog was caused by a spike in gang-related murders.
The MJC then requested monthly meetings with officials saying the waiting period was unacceptable, as Muslims needed to be laid to rest within a customary 24-hour period.
After the first month the waiting period had been reduced to three-and-a-half days.
Health MEC, Nomafrench Mbombo, says: “By adding extra resources, and partially due to a fluctuation in cases, a reduction of 50% has been achieved in the turn-around time for Muslim bodies at both mortuaries.
“This indicates an average of 3.5 days from admission to release. The department will continue to ensure the shortest possible release time. The right to justice and a proper investigation are rights afforded to all citizens, and prioritisation needs to be weighed with this in mind.”
She says they have employed seven forensic pathology assistants, six forensic pathology officers and two medical registrars.
Chairperson of the Cemetery Board, Sheikh Riad Fataar, says as part of the agreement with the department, mortuary staff will not be taking leave in December to clear backlogs.
“The MJC will continue to monitor the situation daily and further requested from the department that the 24-hour priority agreement apply, especially to innocent victims of crime, accident victims and those who died in hospital.”