Mahlangu, Manamela responsible for deaths of 9 Life Esidimeni patients - court
Handing down judgment on Wednesday afternoon, the Pretoria High Court found that the deaths were caused by the negligent conduct of both Qedani Mahlangu and Makgabo Manamela.
FILE: Former Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu gives testimony at the Esidimeni arbitration hearing in Johannesburg on 22 January 2018. Picture: Sethembiso Zulu/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - Former Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu and the head of the mental health directorate, Makgabo Manamela, were responsible for the deaths of nine Life Esidimeni patients.
Handing down judgment on Wednesday afternoon, the Pretoria High Court found that the deaths were caused by the negligent conduct of both Mahlangu and Manamela.
It follows months of gruelling testimony to determine if anyone should be held criminally liable for the 2016 tragedy where 144 mental health patients died during a botched marathon project.
Judge Mmonoa Teffo said the pair ignored warnings about the termination of the Life Esidimeni contract.
JUST IN: Judge Mmonoa Teffo has, so far, found that the death of 9 #LifeEsidimeni victims was negligently caused by the conduct of former Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu and the former Head of the Mental Health Directorate Makgabo Manamela. @khanya_mntambo pic.twitter.com/R0MK58Ki1m
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) July 10, 2024