The DA says fatalities due to anesthetics rose from 481 in 2012 to 803 in 2014.

JOHANNESBURG – The Democratic Alliance says a written response from Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu has revealed that deaths due to surgical procedures in the province have almost doubled in the last two years.

The party’s Jack Bloom says the Provincial Health Department revealed that fatalities due to anesthetics increased from 481 in 2012 to 803 in 2014.

But Mahlangu says Bloom is mistaken as they deal with patient information very carefully.

“We do not reveal the causes of death of patients under any circumstances, so I’ll be very surprised that he would know this information of what people die of under any circumstances.

Meanwhile, newly released statistics from Gauteng’s 10 state mortuaries reveal that fatalities from gunshots, stab wounds and assault account for 32 percent of deaths in the province over the past two years.

Road fatalities account for 26 percent.

Bloom says something needs to be done about the violence in Gauteng.

“Well my view is that dead bodies don’t lie and we’ve got this shocking statistics which show a huge increase in deaths because of violence, gunshots, stab wounds and assault. So this shows that this is violent society.”