Jail health MEC – DA

THE death of 94 mental health patients from Life Healthcare Esidimeni is equivalent to a medical Marikana and former Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu should be in jail, says DA shadow MEC for Health, Jack Bloom.

Bloom formally laid charges against Mahlangu yesterday at the Joburg central police station. In his affidavit he said Mahlangu, who resigned earlier this week, should face charges of culpable homicide, contraventions of the Mental Health Care Act and the National Health Act.

“We want to see real accountability. The fact that Mahlangu resigned when there was no other option for her shouldn’t get her off the hook. She should have resigned or been fired last year ,” said Bloom.

He said, based on the charges laid and the evidence, Mahlangu belongs in jail. “You can’t have a situation where 94 people die and every single one of them was in an illegal facility without a licence. Surely somebody is responsible. Why should 11 officials take the blame alone? Some of them could end up in jail, how can they end up in jail and the MEC does not?I think this will be a precedent in this country that politicians are held to account just as much as others.”