How minister stopped the deaths
Hefty subsidy encouraged unskilled NGOs
It took a call from Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi to force the closure of several nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) where mentally ill patients were dying.
This was revealed by suspended Gauteng department of health head Dr Barney Selebano yesterday.
On his first day on the stand, Selebano told the Life Esidimeni arbitration hearing into the deaths of 143 patients that Motsoaledi called him after media reports that patients were dying.
“He said: ‘Barney, go and close those NGOs; we cannot afford any other person to die’.
“I asked him to write a letter to [then] MEC [Qedani Mahlangu] and he did.”
Selebano appeared before the hearing chaired by former deputy chief justice Dikgang Moseneke after his efforts to avoid testifying failed in court.
Selebano was accompanied by his lawyer, who said he wanted to protect Selebano and ensure his constitutional rights were not violated.
Selebano evaded several questions by evidence leaders, repeatedly only answering, “I would assume”.
Moseneke had to remind him that he was in charge of the department and that he must give factual answers.
Selebano confirmed that he signed a letter to terminate the department’s contract with Life Esidimeni. He said director of mental services Dr Makgabo Manamela presented the plan to move the patients to him and he signed it off.
He said the department was unfair to NGOs by giving them more patients with different conditions than they could look after.
“People would take more than they can chew to get more subsidy.” Selebano said the department should have waited six months before the transfer of patients to various NGOs.
He said Mahlangu pressurised officials to place patients in the care of the NGOs.
“The pressure was that the team must move patients. Typically, once something like that happens they [managers] will do it. They will run.”
Selebano said he had enquired about the value of the Esidimeni facilities and learnt it would cost about R100-million.
“... at the time they said there could be R100-million available to buy. They wanted R104 million but it did not happen.”
Selebano said he, however, never discussed that with the managers.
The hearing continues.