Premier Makhura faces vote of no confidence

Gauteng Premier David Makhura on Tuesday will face a vote of no confidence in his leadership over the deaths more than 100 psychiatric patients moved from Life Esidimeni to unlicensed nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) in the province.

The motion that was tabled by the Democratic Alliance (DA) will be debated during a sitting of the provincial legislature.

On Monday the DA said it brought motion against the premier because of his denial that he had prior knowledge of the transfer of psychiatric patients to the unregistered NGOS.

“However, evidence shows that his office was made aware and [was] advised months before the transferring of patients took place,” the DA said.

In his state of the province address last week, Makhura absolved the provincial executive council, which he leads, from taking the fall over the scandal which the health ombud found that the patients had died of starvation and a lack of water at the NGOs.

Makhura said the decision to move the patients was not made in consultation with the council.

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