Health Ombudsman, Prof Malegapuru Makgoba, on Wednesday identified Gauteng MEC for Health Qedani Mahlangu as a key player in the movement of mentally ill patients from the Life Esidimeni health care centre to the NGOs where they died.

“Available evidence by the expert panel and the Ombud showed that a high level decision to terminate the Life Esidimeni Health Care Centre contract precipitously was taken, followed by a programme of action with disastrous outcomes/consequences including the deaths of assisted mental health care users,” said Makgoba while releasing his much-awaited report in Pretoria.

“The Ombud identified three key players in the project – MEC Qedani Dorothy Mahlangu, head of department Dr Tiego Selebano and director Dr Makgabo Manamela at times referred to as dramatis personae in the text [the report]. Their fingers are peppered throughout the project. The decision was reckless, unwise and flawed, with inadequate planning and a chaotic and rushed or hurried implementation process.”

Makgoba said in contrast to the widely reported figure of 36 patients, at least 94 psychiatric patients died between March 23 and December 19 last year in Gauteng.

“The number of 94 should be seen as a working and a provisional number”.