MEC under fire over incomplete Esidimeni probe
THE Gauteng police are so far investigating the deaths of only 22 psychiatric patients despite a health ombudsman report showing more than 100 patients died at NGOs in the province.
This was revealed by the Gauteng MEC for Community Safety Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane when replying to written questions from the DA in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature this week.
Gauteng DA spokesperson on health Jack Bloom had earlier asked the MEC about the progress of criminal cases lodged by his party, as well as by the EFF and the Gauteng ANC Youth League chairperson Matome Chiloane.
The parties and the youth league laid criminal charges against senior Gauteng health officials after a damning health ombud report revealed at least 100 patients died in the care of NGOs that did not have legal certificates to care for psychiatric patients.
Bloom also wanted to know how many inquests were being investigated by the police, as well as the details of criminal charges against officials who were alle gedly responsible for the transfer of these patients from Life Esidimeni to the NGOs.
In response, Nkosi-Malobane gave the DA all the details provided to her by provincial police Commissioner Deliwe de Lange.
She said the police were investigating the causes of 22 of the deaths. She added though that an inability to identify the deceased people had resulted in inquests being delayed.
“A total of 25 charges were registered with the police: 22 inquests, and three charges relating to culpable homicide, corruption and murder,” NkosiMalobane said.
According to her, the culpable homicide, corruption and murder charges were individually laid by Bloom, the EFF’s Mandisa Mashego and Chiloane, and were handled by the Randfontein police.
Police in Atteridgeville, west of Pretoria, were investigating five cases, including the death of Virginia Makhaphela, whose sister Christina Nxumalo was at the forefront of the battle for criminal charges to be laid against government officials.
Responding to this, Bloom said that Gauteng police should give a date when investigations into the deaths of the 100 psychiatric patients would be finalised.
According to Nkosi-Malobane, the following information was outstanding for the inquest dockets:
The total number of deceased persons;
The addresses and particulars of NGOs;
The statement of the authority person who approved the transfer of patients to the NGOs;
The statements on the handling of the deceased from Precious Angel to the Kalafong hospital;
The statements on the handling of bodies from Kalafong hospital to the pathologist;
Photographs taken during the post-mortem examinations;
Medical records kept by Precious Angels; Medical records of the deceased from Life Esidimeni; Hospital records from Kalafong; Statements from families of the deceased; Statements from the relevant Department of Health officials; and
Statements from the owner of Precious Angels.
“I am concerned that easily obtainable information, such as the addresses of NGOs, has still not been obtained by the police, who don’t even know exactly how many people died," Bloom said.
"It seems that inquests are only being done into deaths at the Tshwane-based NGOs, but many deaths took place in other parts of Gauteng.
"Why are these other deaths not being investigated as well?" Bloom asked.
He said police incompetence should not delay justice in bringing to account all those implicated in the deaths.
“Police Minister Fikile Mbalula should ensure top detectives are used to speed up the investigation which is unacceptably slow,” he said.