The patients died after being relocated from Life Esidimeni, a highly specialised, long-term psychiatric hospital to ill-equipped and unlicensed Non-Governmental Organization facilities.

Judge Teffo handed down the judgment of the Life Esidimeni inquest virtually today.

“Mahlangu proceeded to terminate the contract between Life Esidimeni care centre and the Gauteng Department of Health despite numerous expert advice and warnings from professionals in mental health and stakeholders. Her conduct led to the regrettable and unfortunate deaths, some of which could have been avoided.”

Teffo added that “Mahlangu and Manamela created the circumstances in which the deaths were inevitable.”

‘Huge embarrassment’
Reacting to the judgment of the Esidimeni inquest, the Chairperson of the SA Medical Association, Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa says the law is very lenient on politicians.

Mzukwa says the judgment is a huge embarrassment for this democratic government. He says not much has changed since the Esidimeni tragedy.

--SABC--