SECTION27 welcomes the judgment in the Life Esidimeni Inquest by Judge Mmonoa Teffo of the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria.
In the oral summary of her judgment, Judge Teffo stated that former Gauteng Health MEC, Qedani Mahlangu, and the former Director of the Mental Health Directorate in Gauteng, Dr Makgabo Manamela negligently caused the deaths of nine mental healthcare users: Virginia Machpelah, Deborah Phehla, Frans Dekker, Charity Ratsotso, Koketso Mogoerane, Terrence Chaba, Daniel Josiah, Matlakala Motsoahae, and Lucky Maseko.
Judge Teffo noted that Ms Mahlangu negligently terminated the Life Esidimeni contract despite expert advice and warnings, resulting in mental healthcare users being moved to (non-governmental organisations) NGOs that were ill-equipped and insufficiently experienced to care for them. This conduct, Judge Teffo stated, led to deaths that could have been avoided.
Read the full judgment below:
0 Comments