Gauteng could cough up R1bn for Esidimeni

THE Gauteng government might end up coughing up more than R1 billion to compensate families of the victims of the Life Esidimeni tragedy.

At least 200 families who were not part of the Life Esidimeni Alternative Dispute Resolution process have contacted the office of Gauteng Premier David Makhura to lodge claims.

So far, the provincial government has paid out R159.46 million to 134 claimants of those who were affected when they were moved from Life Esidimeni facilities to unregistered NGOs.

Gauteng government spokesperson Thabo Masebe said there was no cut-off time on when families can claim.

“We are probably going to spend more than R1 billion on this. We do not have a cut-off time, because everyone who was affected needs to be paid out,” Masebe said yesterday.

The moving of patients from Life Esidimeni to the NGOs led to 144 patients dying from neglect, hunger and dehydration. Over 1 400 patients were moved and about 28 are still missing.

The dispute resolution chaired by retired Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke ruled that families be paid about R1.2m each in damages.

Makhura’s office is now in the process of verifying the families who have come forward to say their loved ones were affected.

Masebe said just over 200 people have come forward and been verified.

“Before the arbitration started, we took out adverts and went on radio stations, asking people who were affected to come forward. But we did not get much response.

“Once people saw the award made by Justice Moseneke they came forward.

“But the government is verifying if the claimants have power of attorney over the patients on whose behalf they are claiming,” Masebe said.

Once all verifications were completed, the government would contact the provincial treasury for funds, he said.

Soweto’s Sipho Mtshalala is one of the families who are in the process of being verified. He said his sister Busisiwe, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia was moved from the Life Esidimeni facility in Randfontein.

“She was supposed to be moved to Cullinan, but ended up at Sterkfontein. The hospital called me and told me she had collapsed and was admitted to Leratong Hospital. She spent nearly a month in ICU before she got better,” Mtshalala said.

His sister was treated for heart and kidney failure.

Now, Busisiwe is being treated for her psychiatric condition at Life Esidimeni in Germiston in Ekurhuleni.

“She is much better because she is getting proper medication,” her brother said.

The Mtshalala family lodged their claim with Makhura’s office in June.

“They told me that they are verifying us. The last time I spoke to them they said they had verified us, and they are still waiting for word from their bosses on when we will be paid out,” Mtshalala said.

The DA’s Gauteng health spokesperson Jack Bloom said a number of new claimants have come forward, but the government was stalling in paying them out. “There is no budget for it. Maybe they can adjust the budget in November and make provisions.”