ANC, DA clash over motion on Life Esidimeni

THE ANC and the DA in the Gauteng Legislature have been arguing angrily over what constitutes suitable punishment for those found responsible for the deaths of 144 psychiatric patients from Life Esidimeni.

The latest fallout took place this week, when the DA’s health spokesperson, Jack Bloom, proposed that the legislature should vote on a motion that officials implicated in the Life Esidimeni tragedy be made to pay compensation to the victims’ families.

Bloom said Premier David Makhura had, more than a year ago, told the House he was consulting with stakeholders and legal advisers, including the Department of Justice, on whether former health MEC Qedani Mahlangu and senior health officials could be forced to pay compensation.

Yesterday, DA chief whip Mike Moriarty accused the speaker, Ntombi Mekgwe, of having ruled out the possibility of a vote on the motion, saying it was an initial decision by the Legislature’s Programming Committee.

“Clearly the ANC did not have the numbers to defeat the motion, and so the speaker aided and abetted her comrades in subverting democracy. Attempts to raise a point of order in this regard were met with disruption and insults,” Moriarty said.

ANC chief whip Mzi Khumalo said the “motion seeks to pre-empt judicial processes that are currently under way in making sure that this matter is brought to finality without further prolonging the pain of affected mental health patients and their families”.

“The DA has once again tried to use this tragic event for cheap political point-scoring,” Khumalo said.

Mekgwe did not respond to requests to comment on allegations against her.