Mahlangu’s London whereabouts revealed

Key Life Esidimeni players yet to testify

Former Gauteng health MEC Qedani Mahlangu is studying for her second MBA at the University of Bedfordshire in London.

Mahlangu’s whereabouts were confirmed to Sowetan’s sister publication, The Times, by her attorney, Angelo Christophorou.

He said Mahlangu, who is a full-time student in London, was also doing an extra course at the London School of Business and Finance. She is registered for different courses at both facilities.

Mahlangu led the process to relocate 1 712 severely mentally ill patients in Gauteng from Life Esidimeni to family homes or ill-equipped NGOs last year despite multiple warnings not to do so. More than 140 patients died as a result of inadequate care, a lack of food, water and medicine in what has become known as the Life Esidimeni tragedy.

Arbitration hearings into the tragedy began in October but key officials behind the decision to relocate the patients, Mahlangu included, have yet to testify.

There has been speculation as to her whereabouts and whether she will testify. Some reports suggested she was studying at the London School of Economics (LSE). Two weeks ago, a small group of UK activists protested at the LSE, calling for Mahlangu to attend the arbitration hearings. It was then revealed she was not studying there.

Mahlangu is expected to appear at the hearings in January. –