Outrage at poor care of mentally ill patients

MONEY is no compensation for the tragic deaths of 143

Life Esidimeni patients – and those responsible for violating their rights must be persecuted, according to the family of one who narrowly escaped during the transitions.

Anthony Singh, 52, was among hundreds of mental health patients who were moved to NGOS, and other facilities, in 2015, when the Gauteng Department of Health terminated its outsourced care contract with the private health care provider.

Esidimeni means “place of dignity”.

Last month, former

Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke ordered R1.2million be paid to the affected families following hearings into the scandal. He said the patients were treated like cattle under torturous conditions, and laid blame on former Gauteng Health MEC, Qedani Mahlangu.

But the settlement was not enough for Singh’s sister, Sandra Davids, who preferred to see Mahlangu imprisoned.

Singh was born prematurely after his mother was involved in an accident while pregnant. According to his doctor, he had the mind of a 2-year-old.

After her mother died in 1992, Davids and her elder sister were not able to properly care for Singh who increasingly became aggressive, broke windows, and often wandered outside late at night.

For his safety, the pair decided to institutionalise him at the East Rand Care Centre.

“In 2011 he was transferred to the Waverly Care Centre (part of Esidimeni). In 2015, we were informed the centre was closing because the government would not renew their contract.

“My brother was then transferred to the Odirile Care Centre in Hammanskraal, over one hour away from us, in a desolated area,” said Davids.

“He lost a significant amount of weight, and constantly looked dazed. He had a big scar in the shape of a belt, and all he said was ‘Ouma’.”

Last year, Singh was moved to the Baneng Care Centre, where he had his first seizure.

Singh has recovered and is still at Baneng Care Centre, while Davids has joined the Life Esidimeni family support group.

“We want accountability. People were inhumanely treated and not a single person has taken responsibility – 143 human beings had to die to bring into focus how unfairly mental health patients are treated in this country,” she said.

Davids was assisted by Legal Aid South Africa.