Esidimeni families want officials to pay
They want criminal charges for those cited
Families in the Life Esidimeni tragedy are ready for yet another legal battle amid calls for officials responsible for the deaths of patients to face criminal charges.
The families were yesterday awarded R1.2-million each – which include R20 000 for funeral expenses, R180 000 for emotional trauma and R1 million for constitutional damages.
Former deputy chief justice Dikgang Moseneke, who headed the arbitration, also ordered for a monument to be erected in remembrance of the victims.
Yesterday, member of the families’ committee Christine Nxumalo said they were happy with the outcome but their battle was not yet over. Nxumalo lost her sister Virginia Machpelah in the tragedy.
Nxumalo said they wanted those responsible for the tragedy to face criminal charges. “It’s far from over. We have not stopped. This was only like a halfway milestone for us. We’re ready to get back on the horse and go to the next stop,” Nxumalo said.
Andrew Peterson, whose uncle is a survivor, said they wanted people to face criminal charges.
“We are not slowing down on that. People must be held accountable and charged with murder. They knew what they
were doing. They knew that people were going to die,” Peterson said.
Health Ombudsman Professor Malegapuru Makgoba said the arbitration would assist with the healing process for the families.
“What we are trying to do is to create a system that shows that we respect the constitution and the dignity of our people. The litany of human rights abuses in this project defies description,” Makgoba said.
He said compiling the report on the tragedy had been an emotional experience for him.
“I was in disbelief. I practised as a doctor many years ago. I have never seen people being so abused by so many senior people,” he said.
Makgoba said he was shocked when former health MEC Qedani Mahlangu lied to him about the number of deaths.
“It’s not like she didn’t know but she was more concerned about the politics than about the lives of people,” Makgoba said.
Premier David Makhura said they hoped investigations by police would assist in revealing the truth.
‘‘ People must be held accountable and charged with murder