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"The other officials cited in the report of the Health Ombudsman have all been issued with notices of intention to suspend."
Disciplinary action against government officials implicated in the Life Esidimeni Ombud Report will soon get underway, announced Gauteng Health MEC Dr Gwen Ramokgopa this week,
The hearing against health department head Dr Tiego Selebano and his director for mental health was postponed depending the completion of their appeals against the findings of the Ombud, which was underway, said the MEC.
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Selebano and other senior official were implicated in the transfer of mental health patients to private institutions some of which were not even licensed to hold patients. More than 94 of them, as the Ombud found, died as a result of negligence in the transfers.
Some of those who died were sent to mortuaries in Pretoria.
Ramokgopa revealed that the HoD and the director were paid R1.169 million in wages while on suspension in an answer to DA shadow health MEC Jack Bloom.
Six other officials involved in the scandal were reported to be still working for the department, a claim the MEC dismissed.
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“The other officials cited in the report of the Health Ombudsman have all been issued with notices of intention to suspend.
Their representations have been received and are currently being considered. The disciplinary hearing against Dr Selebano was scheduled for 13 to 17 March but was postponed to allow time for him to make representations to the Ombud on his findings as released on 1 February.
The parties have agreed to set a date for the disciplinary hearing and together determine if they were ready to proceed with the disciplinary hearing without delay,” said Dr Ramokgopa.
Dr Ramokgopsa said reform of the department’s processes had begun, and forensic investigations to determine the cause of death of the 94 patients were underway.
She said some of the facilities that had received the transferred patients had been shut down.
“The licensing of the private institutions to care for patients was being reviewed and regularised. To date, 592 mental patients have been transferred to suitable facilities.”
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