Esidimeni deaths now 118 – ombud
Makgoba blames overcrowding and lack of food
The body count in the Life Esidimeni tragedy has been finally confirmed at 118.
Health ombudsman Professor Malegapuru Makgoba yesterday testified in the arbitration process led by retired deputy chief justice Dikgang Moseneke in Parktown, Johannesburg.
“I have counted and verified, 118 people died as a result of this exercise. At the time [when he released the report in February], I said I was still counting,” Makgoba said.
He said 108 patients were transferred directly from Life Esidimeni to various NGOs, while 10 patients who were removed from Cullinan Rehabilitation Centre died during this process.
Nearly 1 400 psychiatric patients were transferred to various unlicensed nonprofit organisations after former Gauteng health MEC Qedani Mahlangu terminated the department’s contract with Life Esidimeni Care Centre in a bid “to cut costs”.
“They [the ten] died in one NGO that was never licensed. Their death came as a result of movement from Life Esidimeni. They were sacrificed from Cullinan to make way for Esidimeni patients,” he said.
Makgoba said patients died at five NGOs out of the 27 where they were transferred to. “The problem was overcrowding, poor resources and there was no food.”
Makgoba said in one of the NGOs, a patient was so hungry he ate the paper that wrapped the food when his father visited him.
Makgoba said most patients died while being moved from Esidimeni to NGOs rather than those moved to hospitals.
“The difference between a hospital and NGO is quality care and professionalism.”
Makgoba said he felt that political head, Mahlangu, was reckless in moving the patients. The hearings are an alternative dispute resolution process aimed at helping the families find closure and redress following the deaths.
Making representations, state Advocate Tebogo Hutamo said the government accepts responsibility for the deaths. The hearings continue.