PREMIER'S ROLE IN ESIDIMENI DEATHS MUST BE PROBED
Gauteng Premier David Makhura's role in the transfer of Esidimeni mental health patients that led to 141 deaths must be probed following new evidence that he did know about the moving of the patients to NGOs.
Former mental health review board director Dumi Masondo said on Friday last week at the Esidimeni arbitration hearings that Makhura had attended meetings on the move of the patients.
This flatly contradicts Makhura's claim that he did not know that the patients were sent to NGOs but were going to other state health facilities.
Masondo also said that former Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu was instructed to end the Life Esidimeni contract by people above her. She was testifying under oath so her accusations must be taken seriously.
Other evidence that implicates Makhura includes the claim by Dr Barney Selebano, the Head of the Gauteng Health Department, that the "decision to start deinstitutionalization of mental health care users from LE was undertaken in the Office of the Premier of Gauteng, the Honourable David Makhura, together with the HOD" (page 30 of the Ombudsman's report).