See no evil ...
Under-fire Mahlangu says she feels harassed
Qedani Mahlangu revealed she was reluctant to assume her second tenure as Gauteng health MEC in 2014 because she expected a difficult task ahead.
Yesterday, Mahlangu – who resigned last year – continued with her testimony at the Life Esidimeni arbitration hearings in Johannesburg, into the deaths of 143 mentally ill patients.
Patients were transferred from Life Esidimeni facilities to unfit NGOs, resulting in their deaths.
Yesterday, former deputy chief justice Dikgang Moseneke, who is chairing the hearings, asked Mahlangu to once again explain the reasons behind her resignation.
“You knew nothing. You didn’t see anything. You only heard when people died, so my question to you must be why did you resign?”
Mahlangu responded by saying she had decided to take political responsibility because things had gone horribly wrong.
She said she could not continue earning a salary under those circumstances.
“The department of health is not an easy department. When I was appointed, the colleagues I sat with in the room would tell you how I felt at the time. I asked the premier ‘why [have] you appointed me?’”
Mahlangu said she accepted the position and tried to do her best in performing her duties.
On Monday, the former MEC read out a prepared statement in which she blamed former head of department Dr Barney Selebano and director of mental health services Dr Makgabo Manamela, saying they fed her lies.
Yesterday, Mahlangu maintained she was not part of the implementation of the project despite reports and e-mails which prove that concerns about the wellbeing of patients were raised directly with her.
Mahlangu said she instructed Selebano to resolve the issues. In some instances Mahlangu did not answer questions, saying she had forgotten the details.
Moseneke quizzed Mahlangu on allegations that she called all the shots and officials feared her.
“I don’t know why people would say that they are afraid of me. I consider myself to be a warm person.”
The relatives of victims who were sitting in the audience exclaimed in shock upon hearing her response. Moseneke asked them to calm down.
Earlier Mahlangu raised concerns over her safety.
She told Moseneke a drone hovered above her house on Tuesday, adding that intelligence police had approached her at the airport upon her arrival from the UK.
“I don’t know why I’m being harassed,” she said.
Provincial department of community safety’s Busaphi Nxumalo said Mahlangu had laid a complaint with MEC Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane.
“The matter has been referred to the provincial commissioner and head of crime intelligence for further investigation.”