Who looked after mental patients’ welfare?

We’ll always remember, and never forget

The Life Esidimeni incident

When 143 mental patients died,

From starvation and suicide.

Esidimeni means dignified

But some families were never notified

After staff and admin, lied and lied

There are three ministers looking after public health,

but are more interested in their own public wealth

At the enquiry they tried to spread the blame,

Among others, the retarded and mentally lame

They didn’t shoulder their responsibility

To maintain the welfare of a government utility

Were they too blind to see the mental facility

Had become another major foreseen casualty?

When Esidimeni got full to the brim

Mental patients were left out on a limb

Residential care homes or NGOs were formed,

But management and rules were not conformed,

Certificates were issued without inspection,

Patients medical records or doctors intervention!

The tribunal judge Bernard Ngoepe

Must have heard another soapy

He declared the ministers and NGOs were to blame

That Esidimeni didn’t live up to its name!

Where was all the social and health care?

Who looked after mental patients’ welfare?

Life Esidimeni has the look of death row,

Where mental patients come and go!

Involved ministers, deputies, nurses and staff

South Africans, read this and have a good laugh

We should do to them,

What they did to their victims!

If you were affected by the Esidimeni tragedy, or know of someone who was, please let us know via email at randfonteinherald@caxton.co.za.