Don't use Esidimeni deaths for political gains - Zuma
16 February 2017
Cape Town - President Jacob Zuma has warned opposition parties against using the deaths of more than 100 mentally ill patients in Gauteng last year for "political gains".
Zuma told Parliament during his State of the Nation reply on Thursday that the deaths of psychiatric patients, who were transferred to unlicensed NGOs, was a "painful" matter.
"Let me extend again our deepest condolences to the families of psychiatric patients who died so tragically in Gauteng," Zuma told MPs.
"This matter is deeply painful to the country, and should not be used for political gains.