DA uses Esidimeni as a political tool – ANC
THE ANC in Gauteng has accused the DA of desperately using the Life Esidimeni tragedy for political mileage ahead of the 2019 elections.
Yesterday, the official opposition unsuccessfully passed yet another motion of no confidence in Premier David Makhura in the provincial legislature.
DA provincial leader John Moodey said the failed motion was proof that the ANC in the province was shielding Makhura from accounting and taking moral responsibility for the deaths of more than 100 psychiatric patients who died under the watch of the provincial health department between 2016 and 2017.
Their deaths came after they were removed from the Life Esidimeni facility to several NGOs across the province, many of them which were not licensed.
“The vote against the motion by the ANC shows that the organisation has no moral compass and in shielding Makhura, has endorsed his part in this needless waste of human life. The horrors experienced by those who were sent to their deaths will forever be imprinted on the image of the ANC,” he said.
Moodey said the governing party was more concerned about clinging to power than serving and being accountable.
“The time has come to wipe the slate clean and begin again with an organisation that has the interests of the people from all walks of life at heart. Come 2019, the people of Gauteng will be given a chance to start again,” he said.
Following the resounding defeat of the motion, the ANC slammed what it called the opportunistic use of people’s tragedy for electioneering by the DA.
ANC provincial spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said the DA’s repetitive use of the tragedy to poke the ANC and Makhura was indicative of its scant regard for the dignity of the families of the deceased who have pleaded for the matter not be used for political point scoring.
“We are appalled but not surprised by the political opportunism and grandstanding by the DA. This act of desperation by the party confirms that the DA is in disarray and is prepared to stoop so low as to use the tragedy of Life Esidimeni to seek political relevance,” Modiba said.
Following the tragedy, a probe into the deaths headed by health ombudsman Professor Malegapuru Makgoba was conducted.
That was followed by an arbitration process conducted by former deputy chief justice Dikgang Moseneke.
Modiba said none of the reports from Makgoba and Moseneke apportioned blame on Makhura.
Makhura said while the ANC had faced challenges of credibility recently, the DA had ran out of ideas on how to oppose it in the province as it was led by ethical leaders who were committed to simultaneously fight corruption and deliver services.