Shouldering the blame

LAST week’s revelation that Gauteng health MEC Qedani Mahlangu resigned after the health omdusman questioned her suitability to hold the position after 94 mentally ill patients died in the care of the state was welcome.

The shameful tragedy, where it has been revealed that the numbers may increase once other bodies in state mortuaries have been identified, has been dubbed the health department’s Marikana in reference to the 2012 massacre of 34 miners at the hands of the police.

Although a few more officials are due to follow the MEC and be axed this week, seething with outrage the public has pertinently asked if all those involved in the crisis deserve much more than just an axing.

Indeed it would have served the Gauteng government well if the MEC had resigned last year when she acknowledged at the time that 36 patients had died instead of arrogantly staying on at the helm despite the enormity of the situation.

With the EFF and several NGOs having laid criminal charges against both Mahlangu and Gauteng premier David Makhura, it remains to be seen if political principals who lorded over this will be punished further and can be held personally liable over this catastrophe.

Another matter similar to the deaths of patients from Life Esidimeni is of course Marikana.

With the declassification of the Claassen board of inquiry last Thursday and its findings that suspended national police commissioner Riah Phiyega is not fit to hold office and must be fired made public, the families of the miners who died still have a long wait until this matter is finally resolved.

Phiyega has now run to the courts to have Claassen’s report reviewed and set aside. Throughout her evidence at the Farlam Commission which found her to be an unreliable witness and Claassen’s findings lashing her for avoiding to take responsibility for the conduct of the police on that fateful day, her recent action indicates someone who doesn’t want to take responsibility for her actions.

Phiyega’s stance to drag the matter out further with the upcoming court action simply says she does not believe that she has to be punished for the deaths of those miners. She wants the court to also look at the conduct of the former provincial commissioner of North West on that day.

While she has a right to exercise her legal options, this is the type of arrogance and lack of accountability that has seen the public’s perception of state office holders involved in scandals and refusing to back down become more negative.

For the victims of the Marikana tragedy, it will now rest with the courts to finally get someone to account for the loss of the lives of their loved ones.