Life Esidimeni Inquest Findings Released

Findings of the inquest into the Life Esidimeni inquest are being released this afternoon.

Between October 2015 and June 2016, a tragedy unfolded when up to 1 606 mental health patients were moved from the private care facilities of the Life Esidimeni group to state hospitals and 27 non-profit organisations in a rushed and chaotic manner.

Follow the results live as they air from our handle @ Bhekisisa_MG .

We will update the page as the events unfold. Weve also put together everything youd need to know about how the Life Esidimeni tragedy happened and what lies ahead on a one-stop resource page.

In September 2015, the Gauteng department of health decided to end a contract with Life Esidimeni, a group of specialised private psychiatric care hospitals . The decision was part of a wider plan to deinstitutionalise mental healthcare users in the province by placing them into non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in communities. It was also to cut costs .

What transpired was a poorly planned, hastily executed tragedy that led to 144 people dying and 44 going missing .

More than eight years later, no one has been charged for what happened to 1 606 people with serious mental health conditions after they were transferred from Life Esidimenis facilities to 27 non-profit organisations, most between May and June 2016 .

Three high-ranking Gauteng health officials resigned from their posts as a result of their involvement in the Life Esidimeni tragedy between 2017 and 2018:

Gauteng MEC for health Qedani Mahlangu, who, according to Section27, made the decision to transfer the patients from Life Esidimeni

Barney Selebano, head of the Gauteng provincial governments health department

Makgabo Manamela, the departments director of mental health, who, according to Section27, was responsible for implementing the transfers.

The findings of the inquest released today will say whether theres enough evidence for key people involved in the transfer project to be prosecuted.