Premier is lying – DA
ADAMANT: ‘I’D NEVER HAVE APPROVED OUTSOURCING MENTAL HEALTH’ DA’s Bloom says he warned many times in legislature about risks to patients in cost-cutting move.
Gauteng Premier David Makhura is coming under fire for his claims in yesterday’s State of the Province address that he was not aware of the transfer of mentally ill patients from Life Esidimeni into the care of non-governmental organisations where they subsequently died.
“The decision to transfer patients from Life Esidimeni to NGOs was not made in consultation with the provincial executive council, which I lead,” he said.
“The executive council and I would never have approved outsourcing mental health, a primary responsibility of the state.
“We would have never supported the decision to outsource this to NGOs, whether they were licensed or not.”
More than 100 state patients died tragically under the care of NGOs where they were transferred by the Gauteng health department to cut costs.
The death toll is rising, according to health ombudsman Malegapuru Makgoba, who instituted a probe into the matter.
But DA provincial Gauteng leader John Moodey said Makhura was being “untruthful” in his effort to distance himself from the tragedy.
“The premier should have tendered his resignation today.
“The de-institutionalisation of mental health patients and the warnings against this action were made known to the premier as early as January 2016.
“Instead of taking his share of the blame … he has shown that political survival, not people, comes first.”
DA MPL Jack Bloom added: “I was disappointed that the premier claimed he did not know that the psychiatric patients would be sent to NGOs.
“This is surely not true as former health MEC Qedani Mahlangu stated this publicly and I warned many times in the legislature about the risks to the patients.
“Real accountability would be if he accepted responsibility and resigned.”
According to Makhura, health department officials tried to hide information about the problem from him, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi and Makgoba. He said a premier’s primary health advisory council would be established to advise him on matters pertaining to facilities where the vulnerable were cared for.
The decision to transfer patients from Life Esidimeni to NGOs was not made in consultation with the provincial executive council, which I lead.
“Our public health system has suffered severe reputational damage,” he said, stressing that all primary health centres must have high standards, regardless of whether they were private or public.
All the recommendations of Makgoba’s probe would be implemented fully and the health ministry and the health ombudsman would be kept abreast of all developments on the matter, he added.
Bloom said it was “horrifying that the death toll is still rising”.
He added: “Every patient needs to be accounted for, including bodies that some NGOs may have buried privately.
“And there needs to be accountability and criminal charges for every death caused by negligence.” – Additional reporting by Yadhana Jadoo & ANA
David Makhura Gauteng premier