‘I’m sorry for 143 deaths’

A deputy director of the Gauteng health department – who was part of the marathon project which transferred patients from Life Esidimeni to unlicensed non-governmental organisations (NGOs) – was inconsolable yesterday as she admitted she had been wrong for not stopping the project.

The project resulted in the deaths of 143 psychiatric patients.

“I feel so humiliated, so useless,” Hannah Jacobus said, crying hysterically as she was apologising to families while testifying at the Life Esidimeni arbitration hearing.

During the botched project, Jacobus was in charge of identifying, vetting and appointing NGOs.

On Thursday, she made a shocking revelation and told the arbitration that her first in command, former director of mental health Dr Makgabo Manamela, instructed her to break the law by issuing licences without following procedures.

Yesterday, she revealed that there was a culture of fear in the department and that employees were fearful of Manamela.

“I have become wiser. I am extremely sorry that I allowed management to bully me,” Jacobus said.

Earlier, during cross-examination by Lilla Crouse from Legal Aid SA, after many attempts from different counsels, Jacobus finally admitted that Manamela had told them that it was former Gauteng health member of the executive council (MEC) Qedani Mahlangu’s plan to terminate the department’s contract with Life Esidimeni.

“She said it’s senior management, and then she said it’s the MEC. She has taken a decision and it must be implemented,” Jacobus said.

Jacobus went through a disciplinary hearing and received a final warning. She continues to serve as the province’s deputy director after she was put on probation for six months.

Retired deputy chief justice Dikgang Moseneke described the disciplinary hearing as nothing more than as a slap on the wrist.

“You received a final written warning after all those deaths and suffering. That’s coming off very lightly, right? Like you came to work late,” Moseneke said.

Mahlangu, who has been widely blamed for the botched project will testify on Monday. – ANA