Dozens of families visit the Pinetown Mortuary in Durban every day to search for the bodies of their loved ones who died in the recent KwaZulu-Natal floods. It is estimated that the floods claimed more than 430 lives.

“All we want is to bury them and at least get closure,” says Sipho Hlophe from KwaCutshwayo, a small community near KwaNdengezi in Mariannhill.

The traumitised Hlophe, who lost four family members in the floods, says he is still numb and disturbed by what happened.

The pain of not finding their bodies is just making the situation more and more unbearable. How do we carry on after this? he asks while shaking his head.

Another family from the same area as Hlophe, lost seven family members. They say they feel that not enough is being done to search for the missing bodies.

Among the dozens of people at the mortuary was a family from Umlazi who lost two 13-year-olds and an eight-year-old child.

“We have been told by Hillcrest Police Station members that the bodies were recovered and transported to the Pinetown Mortuary, but after coming here for a week, we have not found their bodies and they are not letting us inside,” says Sifiso Chiliza.

“What we experienced is traumatic enough but to not lay our children to rest will just kill us. We just wish to try and forget about this terrible ordeal. It is too painful.”

A Molweni family was among the few people who were fortunate to find their family members’ bodies.

“We lost a grandfather and his grandson. We are shaken by this and the worst is we are left stranded as our house was washed away,” says Phumzile Zulu.

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala, said many families have started laying to rest the remains of their loved ones.

“A task team has been established to coordinate support provided by government to bereaved families and those affected by the disaster in various municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal. Allied to that, a Disaster Burial Policy was adopted by the provincial executive council last week,” he says.