Mahlangu denies e-mails warning against move
in court, which only restored his party membership and not his leadership. Mangope became president of Bophuthatswana in 1977, one of many independent black homelands which only apartheid South Africa recognised.
He had been accused of using police brutality to suppress protest. In 1988, he was reinstated by the apartheid government following a failed coup led by Rocky Malebana-Metsing, leader of the People’s Progressive Party. In 1993, in the build-up to the first non-racial elections in South Africa in 1994, Mangope made it clear that Bophuthatswana would remain independent of the new and integrated South Africa and that he would not allow the upcoming elections to take place in “his country”.
Mangope was removed from office by Foreign Minister Pik Botha and Transitional Executive Council member Mac Maharaj in March, 1994. Members of the UCDP in their party regalia, joined hundreds of mourners to pay their respects to their former leader. Mangope will be buried in Motswedi on Saturday. – African News Agency/ANA FORMER Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu, who has been under fire for the botched transfer of psychiatric patients to unlicensed non-governmental organisations (NGOs) where 143 died, has denied seeing letters and e-mails warning against the move.
Advocate Adila Hassim for Section 27 asked Mahlangu about an e-mail sent to her on December 9, 2015, highlighting court action against the department concerning the closing down of the Life Esidimeni group. Testifying yesterday at the Life Esidimeni arbitration hearings, Mahlangu said she did not see the letter.
Responding to Mahlangu, Hassim said: “But this was threatening litigation.” Mahlangu responded: “The department is threatened with litigation everyday.”
Retired deputy chief justice Dikgang Moseneke, who is chairing the arbitration hearings, interjected and asked Mahlangu if she denies seeing the crucial letters.
She responded: “I don’t remember justice.” Hassim reminded Mahlangu about an e-mail which was sent to her on February 12, 2016, by project manager Levy Mosenogi appealing to Mahlangu to change course on the move. Mahlangu said she was on sick leave during that time and did not see the e-mail.
Moseneke asked: “The letter from Mosenogi that raised these concerns inter-departmentally never reached you?” She replied: “I don’t remember… I was not well.” Hassim asked Mahlangu if she knew about letters and litigation warning against the moving of patient to Takalani, where adults were mixed with children. Mahlangu retorted: “Can I answer that tomorrow?” The hearing continues. – African News Agency (ANA)