Death trap: Timeline of the Life Esidimeni tragedy
Life Esidimeni, a psychiatric hospital, had been contracted for 30 years by the Gauteng department of health for the long-term, specialised care of mental healthcare patients.
Despite warnings from experts, the department ended the contract in September 2015. Its aim was to deinstitutionalise the patients and save costs by moving them to non-profit organisations.
What happened next was a series of systemic failures that led to the deaths of at least 144 people.
Friday, July 19 2024Judgment was finally handed down in the Life Esidimeni inquest on Monday, 10 July 2024. The inquest was focused on the unnatural deaths of 141 of the reported 144 government mental healthcare patients who died between 2016 and 2017. The deaths occurred when more than 1,800 patients were transferred from Life Esidimeni, private psychiatric hospitals in Gauteng, to ill-equipped and unprepared NGOs.
Judge Mmonoa Teffo found that former Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu and mental health director Makgabo Manemela can be held responsible for the deaths of nine Life Esidimeni patients.
How events unfolded
Notebook
- This story was produced by Bhekisisa and Media Hack. It was first published by Bhekisisa. Read it here
- Visit lifeesidimeni.org.za, an online memorial and advocacy project
- Section27
