By Zamalanda Mahlaba

The tragic accident that happened in Pinetown on the M13 Fields Hill Street that claimed 22 lives still brings pain to those who witnessed it.

The Department of Health in KwaZulu-Natal hosted a prayer for the Forensic Pathology mortuary staff in Pinetown after the trauma that they had faced while picking up bodies of the deceased. The prayer was conducted by Rev. J.T. Hadebe who strengthened the staff with a bible verse while the staff of the Forensic Pathology mortuary filled with sadness. “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes…” continued Reverend Hadebe.

The main focus on the prayer was to reveal that the mortuary workers are the ones who are traumatised the most because of the work that they have to do after every accident. KZN Health MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dlomo stood up with a heart-warming hymn “ujesu wethembekile” (Jesus is faithful). The MEC addressed the staff about their hardships that they come across on an everyday bases. “The Forensic Pathology team goes through a lot of trauma, after the ER24 and police leave the scene they are the ones who clear up all the dead bodies and that is traumatic,” Dlomo mentioned.

After being asked by many about why the prayer was to be held at the mortuary, and why it was for the Forensic Pathology staff in specifically, Dlomo explained, “This department faces a lot of challenges; a prayer alone is not enough. These staff members are traumatised; they deserve all the focus because of what they get to see.”

The department will have another prayer that will include all the other departments within the health department. “We will still have another prayer were we will have the ER24, SAPS and other health departments to pray against such tragic accidents,” added Dr Dlomo.