Four lives lost at Kairos Centre, yet no one is held accountable putting more mentally impaired patients at risk
05 August 2021
Today, I laid criminal charges against the Kairos Centre for negligent conduct at the Cullinan Police Station in Tshwane.
Four lives have been lost at the Kairos Centre in two months under very questionable circumstances and there are claims that patients with special needs are being neglected, with no proper regular monitoring of whether they are taking their medication.
The first incident was the unfortunate death of Shane Jordaan (30), followed by the two other mentally ill patients at the Kairos Centre. Jordaan, a mentally ill patient, went missing from the centre on 4th June and his body was later found dumped in a ditch close to Cullinan.
The recent incident is the tragic death of a female patient who committed suicide at this centre. A woman who decided that life was not worth living ended her life while everyone else was having their lunch. Where were the caregivers during that time and why did they not notice that she was not present at the dining hall during lunch?
This is evident that patients at this centre are being neglected while such patients with special needs are supposed to be constantly monitored to ensure that they do not endanger themselves and others around them.
Furthermore, during a search for Jordaan, they found 20kg of discarded medication inside a black plastic container right next to the centre. According to the information from the Kairos Centre management, Jordaan climbed over a 6-foot wire fence to escape from the centre - a clear indication there is a lack of security and proper observation of all patients at this centre.
The Gauteng Department of Health has failed dismally to conduct proper regular monitoring and evaluation of this centre that they fund. Instead of ensuring that vulnerable people are taken care of and that they receive the best care that they deserve, it chooses to side with the centre.
The DA has been reliably informed that the Gauteng Department of Health will be conducting an inspection at the centre on Friday and all centre staff members are on standby to clean, paint the walls and wash patient’s clothes to ensure that the centre is presentable for this event.
It is for this reason that Kairos Centre needs to be investigated for negligence towards their patients.
While the Department might be fooled by the management of the centre, will not fall for any cheap stunts; we will ensure that negligence at this centre is exposed and that no stone is left unturned.
It is now in the hands of the South African Police Service to ensure that investigation is conducted and those implicated are held to account to the fullest extent of the law.
The DA will continue to hound the Gauteng MEC for Health, Nomathemba Mokgethi to ensure that a complete investigation is conducted into the role of the department’s officials and that accuracy is reflected in their evaluation reports. The City of Tshwane is in desperate need of centres such as Kairos and we cannot afford to close it down but to ensure that all services are provided in a clean and healthy environment with monthly audits that can be trusted.
Statement issued by Bronwynn Engelbrecht MPL - DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Social Development, 5 August 2021
