R207 million Esidimeni payout with more to follow

17 May 2018

Relatives of former Life Esidimeni patients have made 175 applications for monetary compensation following Justice Dikgang Moseneke’s arbitration ruling.

According to Premier David Makhura, by end-April this year 51 relatives of patients who died had applied, and also 124 relatives of those who survived.

He revealed this information in an oral reply to my questions earlier this week in the Gauteng Legislature.

Justice Moseneke’s ruling is that R1 million be paid to each claimant for constitutional damages, R180 000 for emotional trauma, and R20 000 funeral expenses for those who died.

This means that R1.2 million will be paid to relatives of those who died, and R1 180 000 to relatives of patients who survived.

This works out to R206.52 million which should be paid to those who have applied so far, but a lot more could be paid if all the relatives of the 1418 patients who survived make claims as provided for by Justice Moseneke.

Makhura says that claims made will first have to be verified, and he confirmed his commitment to implement the Arbitration Award as determined by the Arbitrator.

The full financial cost of the Esidimeni tragedy will only become clear once all claims have been settled, but it is a necessary part of the redress for cruel treatment by a grossly negligent provincial government.

Issued by Jack Bloom, DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, 17 May 2018