Motsoaledi points finger at Gauteng over patient deaths

GAUTENG’S Department of Health was in breach of an agreement when it moved mentally ill Life Esidimeni patients to facilities offering an inferior service.

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said this in response to a question from Annelie Lotriet, of the DA, on when he became aware of the saga.

Motsoaledi said the tragedy‚ in which nearly 100 mentally ill patients died in the care of 27 unlicensed NGOs‚ developed in stages.

He had first heard of the intention to move the patients from Life Esidimeni when social justice group Section 27 had written to the national Department of Health in November 2015‚ threatening to take it to court if the move went ahead. The parties agreed to meet to try to settle the matter out of court.

“This meeting culminated in an agreement being signed between Gauteng Department of Health and Sadag [SA Depression and Anxiety Group] whereby it was agreed that if patients have to be moved‚ they will be moved to facilities that do not offer an inferior service to Life Esidimeni.

“As it emerged later‚ the Gauteng Department of Health, unfortunately, breached this agreement in every conceivable manner‚” Motsoaledi wrote in his response.

He said Section 27 had approached the courts again last year but had not cited the national department in the papers. It lost the interdict application.

“I then came to hear about the [deaths] when the MEC for Health in Gauteng‚ in answering to a question in the legislature‚ announced that 36 mentally ill patients died under the care of NGOs in and around Gauteng.

“I was shocked. I immediately contacted the health ombudsman‚ Professor Malegapuru Makgoba, to investigate‚” he said.

He only discovered the extent of the tragedy when the ombud’s report was released earlier this year.