Esidimeni tragedy: 29 patients still in the care of NGOs
DA says 29 mental health patients formerly cared for at Life Esidimeni in Randfontein are still residing in NGOs.
At least 29 mental health patients who were formerly cared for at Life Esidimeni are still residing in the six NGOs to which they were transferred last year, said Jack Bloom, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health, on Wednesday.
Bloom stated that this information was disclosed by Gwen Ramokgopa, Gauteng Health MEC, in an oral reply to his questions at a sitting of the Gauteng Legislature.
According to him, “Ramokgopa said that these patients and their families refused relocation and her department was engaging with them in this regard. R6 million has been allocated by the National Health Department to assist with the transfer process, but no money has yet been paid to relatives of the deceased patients as a process was being followed in this regard as recommended by the Health Ombudsman.
“The Gauteng Health Department has done well in transferring more than 800 patients to facilities that comply with the required standards. I can understand that there are a small number of patients who are happy with the NGOs where they are currently, which is not a problem, as long as these NGOs are properly licensed.
“But, I am disappointed at the slow process of restitution which would include monetary compensation to relatives of the deceased patients, bearing in mind that no amount of money can compensate for the trauma that they have suffered. Ramokgopa claims that the relatives have received support in various ways but would not confirm whether they were even assisted with funeral costs.”
Bloom added, “There is, unfortunately, a long way to go before there is a full resolution of the outstanding issues surrounding the Esidimeni tragedy, including the prosecution of all those responsible for more than 100 deaths.”
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