Families of Life Esidimeni victims call for justice ahead of judgment

JOHANNESBURG - Some families of the victims of the Life Esidimeni tragedy have again called for justice to be served as they await the highly anticipated judgment in the long-running Esidimeni Inquest.

The Pretoria High Court is expected to hand down judgment on Wednesday, following months of testimonies last year.

The inquest will determine if anyone should be held criminally liable for what’s been described as a callous disregard for human rights that led to the deaths of more than 140 psychiatric patients in Gauteng.

Christine Nxumalo, whose Sister Virginia died in 2016, said that she was concerned about the lack of accountability since the tragedy.

"From where I’m sitting now, no lessons were learnt. This didn’t shake anybody, except for the families. It didn’t shake anybody because, for me, nothing has changed in the manner that they deal with patients, especially mental health patients."

Nxumalo said she hoped the court will not spare the officials who implemented the botched marathon project between 2015 and 2016.

"If there was consequence management, I think people would treat it, behave, and speak of it with a bit more respect but you don’t see that. You don’t see the change, you don’t see the remorse."