Mahlangu must attend hearing

RETIRED deputy chief justice Dikgang Moseneke ought to be lauded for putting his foot down, insisting that former Gauteng health MEC Qedani Mahlangu should appear before the Life Esidimeni arbitration hearing.

In no uncertain terms Moseneke said nobody, including Mahlangu, will be exonerated and that the state should ensure that employees involved in the decision-making processes that led to the tragic deaths of 141 mental health patients testify before him.

The 141 patients died under Mahlangu’s watch and it is only fitting that she returns from London, where she is reportedly studying, to come and answer at the arbitration hearing and give families closure.

When she resigned from her position early last year, Mahlangu reiterated her regret at the loss of lives, saying those deaths occurred under her leadership and that she took full political accountability.

In a statement, she said further that she supported every initiative intended to assist and support the families.

The time has now come for her to break her silence, be true to her word and support the arbitration set up to assist the families.

She said she was open to supporting the bereaved families.

The families need closure; they need to hear from her and understand how she could take decisions that put their loved ones at risk.

The movement of 1 712 patients out of the Life Esidimeni psychiatric homes into ill-equipped NGOs in order to cut costs contravened provisions of the Mental Health Care Act, which states that the physical and emotional dignity and privacy of patients must be respected at all times.

The act further states that patients must be protected from abuse and exploitation, and be provided with care that improves their mental capacity and seeks to reintegrate them into community life.

For this reason – this failure to protect the patients – Mahlangu and all those who reported to her have to give answers.