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The Democratic Alliance welcomes Judge Mmonoa Teffo’s finding that former Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu and mental health director Makgabo Manemela were negligent in causing the deaths of nine Life Esidimeni patients.

According to Teffo, Mahlangu terminated the Life Esidimeni contract despite warnings by experts, and effectively “created the circumstances in which the deaths were inevitable.”

This is a severe indictment that should lead to culpable homicide charges against Mahlangu and Manamela.

It is a pity that the lack of autopsies for the other Esidimeni deaths precluded a firm negligence finding for the other deaths.

Other charges should also be laid against all those who can be identified in causing the suffering of the Esidimeni patients.

These include contraventions of the Mental Health Care Act and the National Health Act, as well as fraud in licensing the NGOs and other matters.

The criminal charges should be formulated as soon as possible, and a court date expedited so that justice is seen to be done without further delay.

Issued by Jack Bloom MPL - DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health