Judgment 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