Families of burnt victims appeal to government to speed up DNA process 

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The families of the victims burnt beyond recognition have appealed to government to speed up the DNA process to identify their loved ones.

The families of the victims burnt beyond recognition have appealed to government to speed up the DNA process to identify their loved ones.
Seventy seven people died following a fire at the Marshalltown building in Johannesburg. Image: CoJ EMS

The families says it’s difficult for them to carry on with their lives with no remains to lay to rest.

Seventy seven people including twelve children died following a fire at the Marshalltown building in Johannesburg last week.

The South African council of churches held a memorial service on Friday to give spiritual support to survivors and families of the victims.

One of the survivors, who lost his younger brother and hasn’t found his body says he feels anxious. 

Meanwhile, the Malawi diaspora says it is difficult to be quick in identifying the bodies because there are too many.

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Aaron Banda, the leader of the organisation says they’re working hard with the SA government to avoid making mistakes of mixing up the bodies.

“The guys at the centre have asked us that we should make sure that whenever the relatives identify [the bodies], they should produce the identity documents or passport.

“There are some who do not have them. We wouldn’t say that we are failing but we are in the process. It’s not easy to do the DNA’s.” 

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