By: Staff Reporter
The Life Esidimeni inquest is continuing in the Pretoria High Court, with more testimony expected.
The court has so far heard how the Waverley Care Centre could not deal with the patients it had in its care. The court was told there were only 13 nurses tasked with caring for 604 mental healthcare patients.
The court also heard from a former nursing manager at Life Esidimeni Zanele Buthelezi, who said former Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu was arrogant and unable to answer questions ahead of the transfer of patients.
She said family members visited some of the earmarked NGOs to receive patients and were not happy with the ill-equipped and illegal setup.
“Firstly, she was harsh when responding to the families, secondly, her facial expression was that of undermining. And thirdly, she was dismissing the questions, and she was choosing who to point, she’ll actually say, ‘not you,'” Buthelezi said.
The inquest is looking at whether anyone should be liable for the death of 144 mental healthcare patients who died when they were moved from Life Esidimeni facilities to NGOs in 2016.
