Behind Monageng Legae’s funeral parlour in Soweto sits a refrigerated shipping container made to store chilled goods. Now it stores bodies
Funeral businesses like Legae’s Sopema Funerals have taken such measures to cope with the influx of bodies into their morgues as South Africa’s Covid-19 coronavirus cases rise above half a million, with deaths at around 9 000.
The cost of the container, along with outlays on a temporary outdoor waiting area, more staff and an additional night shift, has helped wipe out additional revenues.“People forget that this industry is actually playing a pivotal role.” Data showed in July that South Africa had 59% more deaths than would normally be expected between early May and mid-July, suggesting more people were dying of Covid-19 than official figures show.
Stephen Fonseca, regional forensics adviser for Africa at the International Committee of the Red Cross, said South Africa’s experience should serve as a warning for other nations as the continent’s cases near 1 million.
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