Esidimeni tragedy: charges must be laid

The arbitration hearing by exdeputy chief justice Dikgang Moseneke to establish the amount of quantum the relatives of the victims of the Esidimeni saga will receive must stop as no one life in this case is worth more than any other.

His award might bring closure to this particular aspect of the scandal, but criminal charges need to brought against all those involved.

The decision by then MEC for health Qedani Mahlangu to relocate the special needs patients to facilities with unqualified care-givers, condemned the victims to an existence of impoverishment, neglect and eventual death.

Charges of culpable homicide need to be made against the former MEC Mahlangu and others in her department, as well as those into whose custody the victims were placed. Ted O' Connor