Timeline of events

2012 The Gauteng department of health intends cutting the number of beds at the Life Esidimeni Hospital to 40% of available beds. 2013 The department realises that the number of chronic patients requiring full-time care is increasing and that there are few NGOs that provide such services. 2014 The department pays R323-million for the Life Esidimeni contract — 1% of its annual budget of R31.5-billion. June 2015 The South African Society of Psychiatrists, or Sasop, warns the department about the likely consequences of terminating the Life Esidimeni contract, predicting the negative outcomes including loss of lives. October 2015 Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu announces the termination of the Life Esidimeni contract.

November 2015 Sasop, the South African Depression and Anxiety Group, the South African Federation for Mental Health and families engage with the department over concerns about moving the patients and ask that the process be slowed down. December 2015 Families and case NGOs against launchthe departmenta court to stop the process, but reach an agreement with the department committing to consult the parties to ensure the process is safe and in the best interests of the patients. February 2016 The department announces an extension of the Life Esidimeni contract, with care for all patients ending by June 2016. March 2016 Court rules in department’s favour to move 54 patients with “severe intellectual disability”, “hypersexuality” and “psychosis” to the Takalani Home. April — June 2016 Almost 1400 psychiatric patients are moved out of Life Esidimeni to NGOs, state mental health facilities or their homes. August 2016 Christine Nxumalo finds out about the death of her sister, Virginia Machpela, who had been moved without her knowledge to the Precious Angels NGO. She discovered after a trip to the funeral home that eight others from the same NGO had died. Many more patients die as they are moved to NGOs. September 2016 Mahlangu states, in response to a question in the Gauteng legislature, that 36 former residents of Life Esidimeni have died since their move (actually, 77 were dead). Days later, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi announces the health ombud will investigate the deaths. Police asked to conduct inquests in all deaths.

February 2017 The health ombud’s report is released with scathing findings against Mahlangu and two senior officials in the department. The report finds that at least 94 patients died. Mahlangu resigns on the eve of the release of the report. Her two subordinates will face disciplinary action.