​Lerato Mailoane
The long wait of pathology results will soon be a thing of the past for residents with the construction a new Johannesburg Forensic Pathology Laboratory in Auckland Park, Johannesburg.
The R500 million state-of-the-art facility will replace the Joburg Forensic Pathology Mortuary in Hillbrow that is struggling to cope with the demand for forensic pathology services in the province.
"Hillbrow was too small and overtime it could not cope with the new technology we are going to have here. The state of the art technology will help us a lot especially in circumstances where families want to know the cause of death," Makhura said.
Premier Makhura said the 650-person storage academic facility would be used as an educational space with auditoriums, workspace and medical-procedure observation rooms for medical professionals and students.
"This project will uplift the community and assist medical student to do their research. The most important part the building design has taken cognizance of the stressful nature of the environment", said Makhura.
Once completed, the Forensic Laboratory, will transform the spatial landscape and link tertiary education sites around the province by adding to the existing amenities such as Ann Lasky Nursing College, Helen Joseph Hospital, University of Johannesburg Campus; Campus Square Shopping Complex and Rea Vaya Station Complex which has become both educational and health precinct around the Auckland Park area. 
This makes it one of the biggest facilities of this kind in the world.
The Forensic Pathology Laboratory building, forms part of the commitment made, by Premier Makhura in his State of the Province Address to spend the R60 billion infrastructure budget to drive an agenda for job creation, economic empowerment and spatial transformation.
 "The provincial government will continue to use these kinds of projects to empower our people particularly SMMEs and the youth." He said.  
To date, the provincial government has spent R 42, 2 million in procuring material such as steel and concrete from companies in the province and a further R9, 2 million through sub-contracting to local SMMEs. Upon completion, 250 work opportunities are expected to have been created for locals in the area.
The building of the facility should be complete by next year April and it is expected to be fully functional by June 2020.