Forensic Pathology Service in Gauteng gets new fleet

The Gauteng Department of Health’s (GDoH) Forensic Pathology Service (FPS) has unveiled a new fleet of multi-body-carrier vehicles.

The new fleet was launched to improve efficiency and turnaround times when collecting bodies.

These include 11 Sprinter vans which can carry six adults and two infants in a single trip, and seven bakkies that can carry two bodies at a time.

The MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, officially handed over the 18 vehicles to Gauteng FPS at a ceremony held at the Diepkloof FPS mortuary in Soweto on April 30.

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Nkomo-Ralehoko said that the new fleet will ensure that the Gauteng FPS can respond and provide swift interventions in multiple fatality incidents similar to the unfortunate Boksburg gas tanker explosion and Johannesburg inner city building fire incident. Both required that resources be redirected to adequately respond to the incidents.

“During such tragic incidents, our response and carrying out of bodies to mortuaries is delayed due to the many trips that have to be taken by the one and two-carrier vehicles.

“We will now be able to transport multiple deceased at once in the shortest period using the newly acquired fleet.

“This is a transformative step forward in our commitment to enhancing the capabilities of our forensic services.

“The state-of-the-art vehicles symbolise our dedication to excellence and our commitment to upholding the highest standards of dignity and respect in our work,” said the MEC.

“The vehicles are equipped with the latest technology to ensure efficient and dignified management of unnatural deaths and have technological advancements such as cameras, GPS for precise location tracking, enhanced refrigeration systems to better preserve evidence and more ergonomic designs to ensure the safety and comfort of our personnel such as a hand washing station,” said Lesego Masilo, forensic medical services communication officer.

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“The vehicles are designed to respond to incidents in rough terrain and equipped with a winch to pull bodies out of mountainous terrain and locations where the vehicles and personnel are unable to access the scene,” she said.

“These vehicles will be able to respond effectively to similar incidents such as the recent Limpopo bus crash where the deceased bodies had to be carried up the bridge,” said Masilo.

In addition, the MEC said that GDoH will continue investing in the Gauteng FPS to ensure the well-being of grieving families and the dignity of the deceased.

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The fleet follows the deployment of the Forensic Pathology fingerprint system, which has improved the identification of unidentified deceased bodies and the opening of the Ga-Rankuwa Forensic Pathology Services training centre to train medical doctors, undergraduate doctors, and forensic officers amongst others.

“We will continue to transform our forensic pathology service, ensuring that we not only meet but exceed the expectations of the communities we serve.

“This commitment to excellence, coupled with our innovative approach, is what will drive us forward, reinforcing our position as leaders in forensic pathology, not just in Gauteng but across the county and in the SADC region,” said Nkomo-Ralehoko.