Mahlangu shifts blame for tragedy
EMBATTLED former Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu said the deaths of 143 psychiatric patients could have been avoided if the former head of mental health, Dr Barney Selebano, had not provided her with false information.
She was testifying at the arbitration hearing probing the deaths of the patients, headed by retired Justice Dikgang Moseneke.
Earlier in the day, Mahlangu told the panel her life was in danger.
Mahlangu said a drone hovered over her house for a while and she was alerted by security. She also informed the Department of Community Safety about the incident.
She said that when she arrived in the country from the UK, where she is studying, she was approached by police at the airport.
Mahlangu said state security officials met her at the airport, but didn’t tell her why.
Mahlangu resigned her MEC position over the tragedy last year and was summoned to testify at the hearing while studying at the Global Banking School in Bedfordshire in the UK. Mahlangu has maintained she did not know the NGOs were not fit for the purpose and that Selebano misled her into believing that the marathon project was safe.
“We probably wouldn’t be sitting here if I had been given accurate information and facts at the time.”
Mahlangu also implicated Dr Makgabo Manamela, Dr Richard Lebethe and Levy Mosenogi, accusing them of misleading her.
Justice Moseneke asked Mahlangu why she had resigned if she did not know anything.
“I was taking political responsibility. When something goes wrong, politicians resign… In South Africa that doesn’t happen often.”
Advocate Adila Hassim, acting for the SECTION27 human rights organisation, asked Mahlangu if she was aware of concerns raised by health professionals about terminating the Life Esidimeni contract.
Mahlangu said she directed the concerns to Selebano because she believed he was a competent person qualified to deal with matters raised by other colleagues in the medical field.
Justice Moseneke put it to Mahlangu that Selebano said the concerns were directed to her and she made the decision to shut down Life Esidimeni despite several warnings.
“Selebano said he did not want this project to go on. He said he was so scared he could never bring himself to say no.
“He puts the blame squarely at your feet,” said Justice Moseneke. “It is absolutely incorrect,” replied Mahlangu.
“Why would you kick downwards such concerns addressed to you,” asked Justice Moseneke. “Things in government work like that,” she said. At no stage was she aware Selebano and other officials were scared of her.