SECRETIVE MENTAL HEALTH NGO
Little known of facility caring for 36
NEIGHBOURS in the Pretoria suburb of Danville have revealed to Sowetan that Precious Angels, a non-profit organisation where eight mentally ill patients allegedly died, only started operating in the area a few months ago.
An employee at the facility told Sowetan she only started working there last week, and that the rest of the workers were equally new.
She and the other employees refused to give the name and contact details of the NGO’s owner.
Last week, MEC for health Qedani Mahlangu revealed that 36 mentally ill patients had died at NGOs across the country. Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has since asked Health Ombudsman Professor Malegapuru Makgoba to investigate the deaths.
The Gauteng department of health said yesterday it will submit evidence to the office of the Health Ombudsman this week.
Ombudsman spokesman Ricardo Mahlakanya said Mahlangu has “assured” the office that “all the necessary and requested documents are being prepared and will be forwarded to the office of Health Ombudsperson on or before 24 September 2016”.
When Sowetan visited the Precious Angels this week, a neighbour said the patients arrived in Danville two to three months ago.
“The owner of the house was here yesterday. I think he is renting it out to the NGO,” said the neighbour.
His daughter said her friend’s father used to live in the house but moved out a couple of months ago.
“And then the people arrived,” she said.
Precious Angels has another facility in Atteridgeville, a few kilometres down the road. A total of 36 patients were placed in its care. They were among 2 000 patients who were transferred to 122 NGOs from Life Healthcare Esidimeni Hospital in Randfontein, on the West Rand, after the Gauteng department of health cancelled its contract with the hospital earlier this year.
Provincial social development spokesman Mbangwa Xaba said the department would not comment on the registration of NGOs but said on the 36 patients who died: “Like everybody else, we will subject ourselves to that {the Health Ombudsman’s} process. We would like to give that process a chance.”
His response was echoed by health spokesman Steve Mabona.
When Sowetan visited the Danville facility the gates were locked. A female employee was doing laundry in the front yard but fled into the house when she spotted the team. Some could be heard saying they were not allowed to speak to anyone.
“I cannot give you the owner’s phone number. I am not allowed to,” said a male employee.”