‘My sister was raped twice’

A woman, whose sibling was among the Life Esidimeni patients transferred to various unlicensed NGOs where more than 140 died, yesterday told the arbitration hearing that her mentally challenged sister was raped numerous times at Takalani Centre in Soweto.

The witness, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the rape survivor, disputed claims that Takalani was able to offer “top care” to patients.

“My sister was raped in 2013 … she tested [HIV] negative after the rape, but now she is HIV positive and we don’t know how that happened,” the distraught woman told the hearing, which is presided over by retired deputy chief justice Dikang Moseneke.

As many as 143 of the patients, who were caught up in the chaotic Esidimeni transfers to unlicensed NGO facilities in Gauteng, have died – some of them from starvation and neglect. A total of 59 patients are still unaccounted for.

The witness said her family was only made aware of her sister’s rape after she stayed in bed for three days.

“I got a call and when I went there my sister was in the bedroom sleeping, she hadn’t bathed and smelt bad. She also developed a septic wound on her private parts.”

She said she demanded an explanation from the NGO, but the response she got was not satisfactory. “Our sister told us that it was one of the patients, but the NGO said the person is a humble guy and my sister might have led him on.”

As a result, the matter was not taken further and has not been reported to the police.

The distraught woman said it was not the first time her sister had been raped. She said her sister was raped at the same centre, allegedly by an employee and again, nothing was done.

Moseneke asked the woman if her family knew how her sister contracted HIV.

“We are not sure, but she might have been infected when she was discharged for a year because she was always on the streets and came back late in the evening. People might have taken advantage of her,” said the witness.

She said she was part of the group of people who marched in protest against the closure of Life Esidimeni, but their pleas were ignored.

The woman said the group also had several meetings with the Gauteng department of health. She said “they were promised” the NGOs would be inspected. – ANA

I got a call and when I went there my sister was in the bedroom sleeping, she hadn’t bathed and smelt bad. Witness Esidimeni hearings