BREAKING: “All lies” – patient toll at 94
Latest on the Life Esidimeni psychiatric patients as it has been revealed 94 have died – not 36 as previously reported.
The Health Ombudsman, Professor Malegapuru, has released the long-anticipated report into the deaths of nearly 100 former Life Esidimeni psychiatric patients.
The Professor confirmed that 94 patients have died – not 36, as announced by the Gauteng Health Department headed by Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu.
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To this Gauteng DA Shadow Health MEC Jack Bloom said, “Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu lied to me in the Gauteng Legislature on 13 September last year when she said that 36 patients had died in the NGOs in which they were placed. Health Ombudsman Malegapuru Makgoba said that on that date 77 patients had already died.”
In a question and answer session with the media, Premier David Makhura said the department had hidden information from him, therefore those involved would have to suffer the full consequences of their actions.
Makhura also wanted to know why the information was hidden and why it took Bloom to bring mental health and the Esidimeni situation up in the Gauteng Legislature for him to hear about the matter.
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“I don’t want to hear ‘I was not involved’ or ‘It was some one else’s fault’,” said Makhura with regard to Mahlangu’s attitude towards the matter.
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The Premier said there was also fraudulent activity regarding the Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) the patients were transferred to.
Mahlangu has since resigned and may, along with others involved in the Life Esidimeni saga, soon be facing criminal charges.
Makhura was also asked whether he would resign, and whether he feels he is partly responsible for what happened. He replied, saying, “The report is clear and it is clear who the responsible parties are”.
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He said if he felt that he was responsible, he would have resigned long before the report was released. The general explanation was that he does not feel responsible for the matter but is rather responsible for the people of South Africa.
Makhura went on to say that he will be implementing every recommendation in the report.
“I am shocked to the core by the revelation today by the Health Ombudsman that at least 94 psychiatric patients died … I will study the full report and monitor the actions based on its findings,” Bloom said. He also said Makhura has to take disciplinary action, not only against Mahlangu, but also against the 11 senior health officials identified in the report.
In addition to this he said all implicated parties, including those in the five NGOs where 80 per cent of the patients died, should be criminally charged.
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