Former Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu. (Alon Skuy/Gallo Images/Sowetan)
An inquest found that the deaths of mental health patients in 2016 were caused by the former Gauteng Health MEC, Qedani Mahlangu, and the former head of Gauteng Mental Health, Makgabo Manamela.
The patients were moved from the Life Esidimeni facility to ill-equipped and unlicenced non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
The inquest probed criminal liability for the tragic deaths of 141 psychiatric patients in Gauteng in 2016.
The patients died after the Gauteng health department ended its contract with Life Esidimeni, which resulted in the patients being moved to ill-equipped NGOs, despite warnings of disastrous outcomes.
Between May and June 2016, 1 300 patients were transferred – they were loaded into buses or bakkies, without their belongings, shoes or medical records.
More to follow.
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