Esidimeni too painful for minister
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi broke down in tears last night during his testimony at the Life Esidimeni arbitration hearing in Johannesburg as he recalled reading about how people were transported to NGOs like livestock.
“When I read about how people were bundled in vans and tied with sheet and how they were chosen like cattle at an auction …” said Motsoaledi, before he covered his face with his hands and removed his spectacles as tears flowed down his cheeks.
Motsoaledi was the last witness to testify on the final day of evidence at the hearing.
He said it was hard to imagine how such human rights violations could have happened under a democratic government.
“Human rights being breached like this is reminiscent of apartheid. It’s very painful,” he said.
The minister said the provincial health board failed to intervene as a structure which was appointed to protect the rights of patients.
Motsoaledi said patients were unlawfully discharged from Life Esidimeni facilities.
The arbitration was called after a decision by the provincial health department to terminate a contract with Life Esidimeni and move patients to unlicensed NGOs resulted in the deaths of 143 patients.
Earlier, Gauteng premier David Makhura called for officials behind the Life Esidimeni saga to face criminal charges. Makhura said there was a possibility that money exchanged hands between NGOs and health officials who were running the controversial marathon project.
Evidence through the testimony of finance MEC Barbara Creecy revealed that Treasury paid R46-million to NGOs upon a request from the health department.
Makhura said it appeared that NGOs which lacked capacity received large sums of money for nothing.
He said families needed answers to what happened to the funds given to NGOs.
Makhura said the disciplinary process in government was in shambles and failed to bring rotten officials to account.
“There can’t be justice until those responsible are brought to book.
“They come back to continue their lives and citizens are harmed,” he said.
People sitting in the audience responded with applause. One woman could be heard saying: “Mahlangu must go to jail.”
Makhura said he would no longer trust reports from senior legislature members after being fed lies about the removal of patients from Life Esidimeni.
“I’m going to have doubts on what my MECs tell me.”
He said he was ashamed to stand in public with no knowledge about some things that happened within departments.
Makhura said he would crack down on corruption through the special investigations unit.
The arbitration will reconvene next week for closing arguments.