Mkhatshwa gives evidence on deaths

THE Life Esidimeni inquest yesterday continued to probe the deaths of 144 patients who died after being moved to various non-governmental organisations in Gauteng.

The inquest yesterday heard evidence from former Life Esidimeni managing director Morgan Mkhatshwa.

The inquest is being heard virtually by the High Court in Pretoria.

Mkhatshwa was questioned by Laurence Hodes, the legal representative of former Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu. Hodes’s questions focused on attempting to clean up Mahlangu’s image.

He also focused on that his client could not be held responsible for the deaths that took place after patients had been moved from Life Esidimeni to the NGOS.

Hodes asked Mkhatshwa about the deaths at Life Esidimeni over the years while the state’s mentally ill patients had been under the organisation’s care.

Hodes put it to Mkhatshwa that reports from the Gauteng Department of Health indicated that deaths occurred regularly at health facilities. From 2015 to 2016, up to 93 deaths had occurred at Esidimeni. In 2016, eight deaths were recorded.

This was when the department officially terminated its contract with Life Esidimeni.

Hodes said there had been an average of 80 to 90 deaths a year at Life Esidimeni.

He quizzed Mkhatshwa on how deaths occurred at various facilities and whether such deaths could be classified under normal circumstances.

Mkhatshwa agreed that natural causes and comorbidities could result in deaths.

Hodes asked: “You cannot attribute any particular death to my client, Miss Mahlangu?” Mkhatshwa replied: “Death might be a natural cause for some and it depends on the conditions. I am not saying people would not have died if they were at Esidimeni.”

Earlier, Mkhatshwa was questioned about the ballooning costs charged by Life Esidimeni to the government. He said price increases had to be looked at broadly and in many instances they were backed by the rising Consumer Price Index.

“An annual tariff increase was negotiated by Esidimeni and the Department of Health. CPI influenced how much the percentage increase would be.”