Life Esidimeni saga: ‘It’s a continuing nightmare’

The DA said the Life Esidimeni nightmare continues as relatives are now dissatisfied about their payouts.

In a statement released this week, Jack Bloom, MPL and DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, said relatives of Life Esidimeni patients who survived the botched transfer to NGOs are dissatisfied that not all compensation claims have been paid and those that have been paid have only received 50 per cent of the stipulated amount of R1 180 000.

In 2017, the Herald reported that over 140 psychiatric patients transferred from Life Healthcare Esidimeni died while in the care of various NGOs. The patients were moved to the NGOs after the Department of Health allegedly cancelled its contract with Life Healthcare, which had taken care of 2 000 patients in Randfontein.

Bloom said in terms of the Master of the Court process it has been determined that 50 per cent of the compensation claim (R590 000) should be paid to the relatives and the other 50 per cent placed in a trust to be administered for the benefit of the patient.

“About 300 families represented by the Life Esidimeni Tragedy Committee (LETG) accuse the Gauteng Premier’s Office of breaking an agreement with them not to put the money into a trust. They say that they should have a role in administering the money as they have looked after the interests of their loved ones all these years.”

Bloom continued, saying that someone high up in the Premier’s Office had said that R60 million had been paid so far to relatives out of the R300 million that had been budgeted.

“This is slow progress as they had been promised that all payments would be done in December last year. The LETG is planning on a petition and is also going to the Public Protector about this issue. They are suspicious that the money will end up with the hospital groups that currently look after the surviving Esidimeni patients.

“I am disappointed at the slow payments and the continuing disputes which could have been avoided with proper consultation and sensitivity.The Premier’s Office should engage honestly with the families to resolve all problems speedily so that there is proper recompense for all concerned.

“We need to end the continuing nightmare of the Esidimeni tragedy.”