Probe into disappearance of mental health patient

THE DA in Gauteng has urged the provincial health department to conduct a probe into the disappearance of mental health patient Shane Jordaan, who was reported to have gone missing earlier this month.

The DA’s spokesperson on social development, Bronwynn Engelbrecht, said her party was appalled to learn about the conditions at the Kairos Centre in Cullinan, Tshwane, where patients with special needs were allegedly neglected and their rooms in a filthy condition. She said the centre was also plagued by leaking raw sewage.

“These terrible living conditions were revealed after one of the mentally impaired patients, Shane Jordaan, 30, went missing earlier this month. According to the mother of the missing patient, the centre never bothered to inform her that her son had gone missing. She only learnt of her son’s disappearance from the police five days later. It is cruel and unacceptable for the Kairos Centre to not inform parents or guardians immediately after the disappearance of their child, spouse or relative,” Engelbrecht said.

She said Jordaan’s mother was further informed by the police that the condition of the room her son and other male patients shared was filthy, with unused medicine all over the floor, and blood and semen on the bedding.

“Jordaan’s mother states that she was never allowed to go inside her son’s room – a clear indication that the centre was hiding something. Whenever her son came home to visit, he was often drugged and unable to engage coherently with the family.

“Furthermore, the Cullinan CPF (Community Police Forum) states that while searching for the missing patient, they found 20kg of discarded medication inside a black plastic container right next to the centre. The CPF also confirmed that the police were refused entry inside the premises, but after legal action was threatened, the dog unit was granted admission,” Engelbrecht said.

Kairos Centre is an NGO licensed in terms of the Mental Health Care Act as an adult psychiatry residential care facility for men and women, as well as a residential care facility for geriatric patients.

Engelbrecht said it was deeply worrying that this facility was failing to ensure the safety and security of its patients, particularly as it was funded by public money through the Gauteng Department of Health, and looked after 125 patients.

“The DA has already informed the Gauteng MEC for Health, Nomathemba Mokgethi, about the circumstances of this centre and requested an urgent and immediate investigation into conditions, and the lack of security that provided the opportunity for Shane Jordaan to disappear. The health department has a responsibility to conduct regular monitoring and evaluation of all the centres funded by the state to ensure vulnerable people are taken care of and receive the best care that they deserve. It is evident they have failed miserably in this regard, with patients not being given the treatment and care they are entitled to,” Engelbrecht said.

Health department spokesperson Kwara Kekana said the department would look into the matter.