Thursday 10 October

MEDIA ALERT: SECTION27 to cross-examine Dr Makgabo Manamela on behalf of bereaved Life Esidimeni families

28 November 2022, Johannesburg — SECTION27 will commence its cross-examination of Dr Makgabo Manamela in the Life Esidimeni Inquest this afternoon. Dr Manamela was the Director of the Mental Health Directorate at Gauteng Department of Health (GDOH) during the transfer of mental healthcare patients out of Life Esidimeni into unprepared and unlicensed NGOs in 2016. SECTION27 represents 44 bereaved families who lost loved ones in the transfer from Life Esidimeni and intends to question Dr Manamela about her role in the deaths of 141 mental healthcare users.

Dr Manamela has been giving evidence before Judge Mmonoa Teffo at the High Court of South Africa (Gauteng Division, Pretoria) for several weeks. Acting for SECTION27, Senior Counsel Advocate Adila Hassim will cross-examine Dr Manamela on behalf of the bereaved families and the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG).

SECTION27 continues to seek justice and accountability for the deaths of the mental healthcare patients who lost their lives in the tragedy.

You can watch the Inquest on the Judiciary’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JudiciaryRSA

[ENDS]

For media queries: 

  •   Julia Chaskalson (chaskalson@section27.org.za 0834402674) 

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