Friday 01 November

28 October 2024, Johannesburg – On 29 October 2024, marking the end of Mental Health Awareness month, the Life Esidimeni families will be joined by members of the disability sector, the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), SECTION27 and other interested parties, in a picket to hand over a memorandum to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). The interest groups demand that the NPA prioritise the prosecution of Qedani Mahlangu (the former Gauteng Health MEC) and Dr. Makgabo Manamela (the former Director of Mental Health in Gauteng) for their roles in the Life Esidimeni tragedy.

It has been over three months since Judge Mmonoa Teffo ruled that the deaths of Virginia Machpelah, Deborah Phehla, Frans Dekker, Charity Ratsotso, Koketso Mogoerane, Terrence Chaba, Daniel Josiah, Matlakala Motsoahae, and Lucky Maseko were unnatural.  Judge Teffo found that Qedani Mahlangu and Dr. Makgabo Manamela caused these deaths, which were among the 144 deaths resulting from the Life Esidimeni disaster.

Judge Teffo stated that Ms Mahlangu negligently terminated the Life Esidimeni contract despite expert advice and warnings, resulting in the relocation of mental healthcare users to non-governmental organisations that were ill-equipped and lacking in experience to provide adequate care.  Dr Manamela implemented the plan to move mental health care users to dangerous conditions when she knew the risks of doing so. This conduct, Judge Teffo stated, led to deaths that could have been avoided.

The families have endured a painful eight-year wait for justice. Despite a historic judgment that indicates government officials should be held personally criminally accountable for their roles in the tragedy, the NPA has not yet pursued criminal charges against those implicated, including Ms Mahlangu and Dr Manamela.

The Life Esidimeni families and their allies call on the NPA to pursue criminal charges against Qedani Mahlangu and Dr Makgabo Manamela without delay.

Details are as follows:

Meeting Point: Church Square in Pretoria

Time: 09:00 AM

For media queries contact:

Pearl Nicodemus | nicodemus@section27.org.za | 082 298 2636


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