Life Esidimeni judgment a wake-up call for politicians, says former Health Ombud Makgoba
Former Health Ombudsman Malegapuru Makgoba says the judgement in the Life Esidimeni inquest should serve as a warning to politicians amid concerns of political interference in the work of government.
FILE: Life Esidimeni Waverley Care Centre Hospital in Boksburg. Picture: Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - Former Health Ombudsman Malegapuru Makgoba says the judgement in the Life Esidimeni inquest should serve as a warning to politicians amid concerns of political interference in the work of government.
The Pretoria High Court handed down the judgement on Wednesday, three years after it began hearing testimonies in the country’s biggest public healthcare disaster.
The court found former Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu and the former Head of Mental Health Makgabo Manamela should be held accountable for some of the 2016 deaths of mental health patients in the province.
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Makgoba was appointed as the first Health Ombudsman when the Life Esidimeni tragedy unfolded in 2016.
He later released a scathing report on the deficiencies in the deadly marathon project.
Makgoba said the judgement was a step in the right direction for holding politicians accountable.
“This has not happened in our country that decisions that are made by politicians are found by the court to require accountability in law.”
He said he hoped political leaders would avoid meddling in administrative issues going forward.
“This judgement is going to make people wake up and realise that when we make decisions, there are consequences.”
The court has yet to release the full judgment.