Inside Politics Reporter
ActionSA MP Kgosi Letlape says he has written to the National Prosecuting Authority to request that it must lay criminal charges against former Gauteng Health MEC, Qedani Mahlangu and former Gauteng Mental Health Head, Dr Makgabo Manamela.
Mahlangu and Dr Manamela were fingered as those responsible for the deaths of patients with mental health problems during the Life Esidimeni Tragedy during an inquest judgement on Tuesday at the Pretoria High Court.
Letlape said the appeal to the NPA to charge the two officials come after Judge Teffo’s ruling, which left no ambiguity in the fact that their negligent conduct lead to the tragic deaths of numerous mental health patients “with the judge’s findings going as far as to rule that these deaths were inevitable,” he said.
Letlape believes that there is urgency in the need for the NPA to act, not only on account of the gravity of the inquest’s findings but also to ensure that justice is finally served for both the victims and their families, who have had to bear unspeakable suffering for eight years as a consequence of this tragedy.
He said the tragic tale underscores the urgent work that the 7th Parliament must embark upon to ensure that through effective oversight and accountability corruption and mismanagement are eradicated.
“We work to root out the malignant structural deficiencies, mismanagement, incompetence and criminal negligence within our healthcare system that continues to cost the lives of South Africans,” he said.
Eight years on, the tragic irony of the judgement on the ‘Life Esidimeni’ disaster is that those entrusted with the responsibility of preserving life and dignity made fateful decisions that led to loss of dignity and life.
Letlape called for the building of a healthcare system that delivers good quality, dignified medical services to all South Africans, especially the most vulnerable.
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