Tshwane – The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has called for an urgent investigation into repeated electricity disruptions at a key forensic facility in the City of Tshwane, warning that the situation could undermine critical medico-legal services.
In a media statement, DA Gauteng health spokesperson Madeleine Hicklin criticised the City’s revenue collection campaign, #TshwaneYaTima, launched by Mayor Nasiphi Moya, saying it has led to instability at the Tshwane Forensic Pathology Laboratory.
According to the DA, the facility, responsible for conducting autopsies and post-mortems, has experienced regular power outages over the past two months, creating uncertainty and placing strain on operations.
“The party will write to the City Manager to request a formal probe into the matter, as the situation is unacceptable, given the essential role of forensic services in the justice system,” Hicklin stated.
The DA alleges that the disruptions stem from a demand by the city for a “significant upfront payment,” despite the facility reportedly having no outstanding debt and operating on a prepaid electricity system. The party further claims that power has continued to be disconnected even after confirmation from the city’s finance department that no arrears are owed.
As a result, the laboratory has been forced to rely on generators to maintain operations.
While there is currently no backlog in post-mortem examinations, Hicklin warned that the unpredictability of electricity supply is creating pressure within the system. Funeral parlours have reportedly been urged to collect bodies promptly after examinations due to fears of further power interruptions.
The DA cautioned that disruptions at forensic facilities could have serious consequences, particularly in cases involving violent or suspicious deaths.
“Autopsies and post-mortems depend on stable power,” Hicklin said. “Outages can compromise specimen integrity, hinder identification processes, and jeopardise critical evidence used in legal proceedings, she added.”
The party acknowledged the importance of revenue collection by municipalities but argued that enforcement measures must be fair and should not disrupt essential services.
“Forensic pathology services cannot be held to ransom by a flawed revenue collection initiative that risks crippling a vital legal and investigative system,” Hicklin said.The City of Tshwane is yet to respond publicly to the allegations.
