The North West Health Department has dismissed allegations that mortuaries in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality are full.
Concerns arose after community members in Stilfontein reported seeing bodies of illegal miners temporarily stored in pathology vehicles overnight. The miners were retrieved from a disused mine during a multi-day rescue operation that has so far brought over 100 miners to the surface and recovered more than 50 bodies.
Department spokesperson Lucas Mothibedi assured the public that the province's facilities are not overwhelmed. "We have identified four major facilities in Klerksdorp and Tshepong, the largest in the province. There is no overcrowding as claimed, and we are fully prepared to handle the situation," Mothibedi said.
He added that contingency plans are in place, including the potential use of additional facilities like the Phokeng and Brits Forensic Pathology units if needed. "We assure the public that we remain capable of managing the current circumstances," he emphasized.
The rescue operation continues, with authorities monitoring developments closely.