Life Esidimeni: Health Dept officials failed to uphold oath of office - DA's Bloom

JOHANNESBURG - There is hope that the judgment in the Life Esidimeni inquest will hold those responsible for the 144 deaths accountable.

The deaths followed a botched marathon project meant to move close to 2,000 psychiatric patients from the private Life Esidimeni facility to public institutions.

The Democratic Alliance (DA)’s Jack Bloom said the 2016 Life Esidimeni tragedy was an indictment on government, as he again levelled harsh criticism against the Gauteng Health Department.

Former Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu, former HOD Barney Selebano and the former head of the mental health directorate, Makgabo Manamela, are all at the centre of the tragedy.

They’re believed to have been the decision-makers that led to the termination of the longstanding Life Esidimeni contract, without the due diligence done.

Bloom, who blew the lid off the saga back in 2016, said officials in the health department failed to uphold their oath of office.

“I think what stands out for me, is how arrogant Qedani Mahlangu was, no one stood up to her. And now they’re all blaming each other.”

The Pretoria High Court is expected to hand down judgment in the Life Esidimeni inquest on Wednesday.