SA to repatriate ‘outstanding organs’

ST230408(03) Professor Jonathan Moyo of Zimbabwe answers some questions during a debate session held at Atlas Studios in Milpark, Johannesburg. Dr Ibbo Mandaza (right).Picture: Bonile Bam

ST230408(03) Professor Jonathan Moyo of Zimbabwe answers some questions during a debate session held at Atlas Studios in Milpark, Johannesburg. Dr Ibbo Mandaza (right).Picture: Bonile Bam

Published Nov 19, 2015

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Johannesburg - South African Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi visited Zimbabwe on Thursday to meet his counterpart over concerns about the postmortem of Zanele Moyo, daughter of that country’s minister of higher and tertiary education.

Twenty-year-old Zanele, the daughter of Johnathan Moyo, was a second year student at the University Of Cape Town. She was found dead in her private off-campus apartment on 17 October.

Reports doing the rounds in Zimbabwe have suggested that after a postmortem was carried out in South Africa, Zanele’s body was repatriated with some internal organs missing.

After the funeral, the Chronicle, a state-owned daily newspaper in Zimbabwe, reported that Zanele was “buried without a heart”. The newspaper said the anomaly came to light after a second postmortem was carried out in Zimbabwe.

Motsoaledi met Zimbabwe Health Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa on Thursday to discuss “the puzzles around the unfortunate death” of Zanele, after which they released a joint statement on how they would resolve the matter.

“It was also agreed that a process be set up between the ministry of health in South Africa and his Zimbabwean counterparts, with the help of relevant authorities and experts from both countries to expedite and take the matter to its finality,” the statement said.

This process will entail, a review of the investigation and the progress made to date, post mortem procedures and conclusions and the repatriation of the “outstanding remains”.

The ministers also took the opportunity to express their deepest condolences from their respective countries to the Moyo family.

ANA

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