Qedani not off the hook
FAMILIES CONSIDER LEGAL ACTION AGAINST FORMER MEC OVER 94 DEATHS
FAMILIES of 94 mentally ill patients who died due to negligence caused by the Gauteng health department demanded action be taken against former MEC Qedani Mahlangu, as they consider their legal options.
The deaths happened after the department relocated patients from Life Esidimeni healthcare centre to various NGOs in Gauteng.
Mark Heywood, executive director of Section27, a human rights organisation, said: “The outcome of this report and the resignation of MEC Qedani Mahlangu is just the beginning. We are now waiting for the families to … give us an instruction on how we proceed with the legal action from here.”
Lucas Mogwerane, who represented the affected families, said yesterday they were saddened by the deaths and were horrified by the entire situation.
“Government must account for their deaths. Their lives relied on them [government] for medical care. Their lives were put on the hands of people [NGOs] who were disorganised and did not follow the constitution.
“We hope something will be done against Qedani [Mahlangu]. It is not the end of the road for her, even if she has resigned.
“She can’t hide like an ostrich. We hope something will be done. Government should account by launching a way forward that justice must be done. We will be having a strategic meeting going forward and will bring ministers of health and justice,” he said.
Bereaved families refused to specify what kind of action they wanted taken against Mahlangu.
But they said they were happy that Gauteng premier David Makhura had replaced Mahlangu with a medical doctor.
Makhura announced that Dr Gwen Ramokgopa would replace Mahlangu.
Parent Bertha Molefe, who lost her daughter Sophie, said her child complained about coldness after she was removed from Esidimeni.
“She was living a better life at Esidimeni where she had access to medication and proper nutrition daily. I am sad that officials lied to me that my daughter died because of a drug overdose, which I don’t believe,” she said.
Florence Mafulela said that her son Bhekumuzi Sithole would be alive if government had not removed him from the Esidimeni centre.
“I am sad and demand answers. I was never told in time that he was dead and I only learned later that he had died and I don’t know what caused his death. I was only told that he was taken to hospital where he died,” Mafulela said. Sasha Stevenson from Section27 welcomed the findings in health Ombudsman Professor Malegapuru Makgoba’s report that the deaths of those patients were caused by negligence, dehydration and diarrhoea, among others.
Stevenson said they represented bereaved families and there was a potential for further action to be taken against those implicated. They would seek justice for those who died and the survivors.
DA legislature member Jack Bloom, who has been calling for Mahlangu’s removal, said the MEC lied when she initially told the legislature that only 36 patients had died.
“I am horrified by the report that 94 people had died. We call on other patients who are in NGOs to be removed urgently. This shows a rot in the department. We need new leadership and the full force of the law must apply. Families must receive compensation. I hope this is a lesson,” Bloom said.
“It is not the end of the road for her, even if she has resigned