While there have been wins in the Life Esidimeni saga, DA Shadow MEC for Health, Jack Bloom is still not pleased about how police investigations are being handled.
“Gauteng police cannot give a date when the investigations into the deaths of more than 100 mental health patients will be finalised,” Bloom said.
He said Gauteng Community Safety MEC, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane, said police are conducting 22 inquests but have been delayed by difficulties in identifying bodies.
Read more here: Health Department fails to meet Esidimeni deadline
Inquests have been lodged in:
• Atteridgeville (five cases)
• Pretoria West (four cases)
• Pretoria Central (three cases)
• Cullinan (10 cases)
“The Randfontein Police are investigating murder, culpable homicide and corruption charges against former Health MEC, Qedani Mahlangu. The charges were laid by ANC Gauteng Youth League Chairperson, Matome Chiloane, EFF MPL Mandisa Mashego, and me,” Bloom explained.
According to Nkosi-Malobane the following details are outstanding for all inquest dockets:
• The total number of deceased persons
• The addresses and particulars of NGOs
• The statement of the person in authority who approved the transfer of patients to the NGO
• The chain statements on the handling of the deceased from Precious Angels to Kalafong Hospital
• The chain statements on the handling of the body from Kalafong Hospital to the pathologist
• Photographs taken during the post mortem examinations
• Medical records kept by Precious Angels
• Medical records of the deceased from Life Esidimeni
• Hospital records from Kalafong
• Statements from families of the deceased
• Statements from the relevant person from the Department of Health
• Statements from the owner of Precious Angels
“I am concerned that easily obtainable information like the addresses of NGOs has still not been obtained by the police, who don’t even know exactly how many people died,” he said.
Bloom feels more attention is being given to Tshwane-based NGOs, while many deaths took place in other parts of Gauteng.
He said the national police minister, Fikile Mbalula, should ensure that top detectives are used to speed up the investigation which he describes as unacceptably slow.
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