NGOs like ‘5-star hotels’

A witness has told the Life Esidimeni arbitration into the botched transfer of mentally ill patients that families of patients were told that their loved ones were being moved to institutions which were comparable to five-star hotels.

At least 143 patients died, largely due to starvation and severe neglect at ill-equipped and often unlicenced NGOs, while a further 59 are still unaccounted for.

Nompilo Nkosi, whose brother survived after the botched relocation of more than 2 000 patients to the NGOs, testified yesterday about how families tried to warn the Gauteng health department about the move.

Her autistic brother Sizwe , 31, has been institutionalised since he was 11. “On May 2016, we were told Sizwe would be moved to Cullinan Care and Rehabilitation Centre (CCRC). We were told that it was like a five-star hotel.”

Nkosi explained that she went to CCRC after 10 days and found Sizwe in an appalling condition. “He was frail and sunburnt and had an unpleasant smell. He looked as though he hadn’t taken a bath since he arrived there.”

After that, Nkosi sent the Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi an e-mail informing him about the living conditions at CCRC. “I then received a letter of response from CCRC acknowledging my concerns and said they would try to fix the issues I was complaining about,” she said.

Retired deputy chief justice Dikgang Moseneke, who is chairing the hearings, asked Nkosi if things got better after that. “Things never got better. After I received the letter of acknowledgement from CCRC; Sizwe got worse, he deteriorated,” she said.

Nkosi added that she and other families engaged the provincial health department about their concerns and Dr Makgabo Manamela, the suspended director of mental health services in Gauteng, knew about their grievances.

“We were told that if we don’t like where our loved ones were being moved to, we are welcome to take them home,” she said, adding that former Gauteng health MEC Qedani Mahlangu had, during one meeting, reassured families the transfers would go smoothly.