Families of Life Esidimeni victims growing impatient with the slow pace of justice
In July, the Pretoria High Court handed down a scathing judgment about the complicity of some government officials in the deaths of 144 mental health patients in Gauteng.
FILE: Life Esidimeni Waverley Care Centre Hospital in Boksburg. Picture: Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - The families of the Life Esidimeni victims are growing impatient with the slow wheels of justice as they again demand accountability for the tragedy.
In July, the Pretoria High Court handed down a scathing judgment about the complicity of some government officials in the deaths of 144 mental health patients in Gauteng.
Almost a decade since the country’s worst public health dilemma, the landmark ruling found that nine of the deaths were caused by the negligent conduct of former Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu and the former head of the Mental Health Directorate, Makgabo Manamela.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is yet to make a decision on plans to prosecute the pair.
Executive director at advocacy group Section 27, Sasha Stevenson, said that a picket would be held in Pretoria on Tuesday morning, calling for justice.
"A prosecution in this case would be so important for accountability, both for the families of the victims but also for everyone else in South Africa who have watched for eight years while the wheels of justice turned slowly. Accountability for the victims of Life Esidimeni couldn’t be more important."