Other provinces probed on mental health deaths

HEALTH Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has asked the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to investigate if there were cases of mentally ill patients who had died in other provinces.

This follows the loss of more than 100 psychiatric patients in Esidimeni in Gauteng.

Motsoaledi told Independent Media they wanted to get to the bottom of these cases across the country.

The expansion of the investigation into other provinces is part of the recommendations of the Health Ombudsman, Prof Malegapuru Makgoba.

Motsoaledi said he had written to the SAHRC to begin with the investigation in other provinces.

SAHRC spokesman Gushwell Brooks said yesterday that they have started with the probes. It would be a national investigation.

“We will do it systematically nationally. In the Eastern Cape there was a concern because there was a planned movement of patients. Our office there is looking into that,” said Brooks.

He said they were working on the Health Ombudsman’s report.

Motsoaledi said they needed to ensure that they fully implemented the recommendations of the ombudsman.

This would cover all the facilities in the country.

The Department of Health did not want the Gauteng tragedy to be repeated.

More than 10 senior officials in that province are on suspension pending disciplinary action against them on the Esidimeni matter.

Former Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu quit after the report came out early this month.

She has been criticised for not responding quickly when the deaths of patients came to her attention.

Makgoba said they had been discovering more bodies and the number was now well over 100.

He said this could rise further.

These were not new deaths, but people who had not been found when the report came out.

He said he hoped the investigation by the SAHRC would help to determine if there were similar cases in other provinces.

The call was made by MPs in the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces as they feared there could be similar deaths in the other eight provinces.