Esidimeni victims’ families want NPA to act now

Life Esidimeni family members’ representative, Christine Nxumalo, says they cannot wait for another eight years to pass before they get the necessary action from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

She was speaking at the back of a protest to the NPA headquarters by the families of the 144 patients who either lost their lives or suffered server health conditions after they were moved to ill-equipped facilities to vent their frustration.

NPOs, Section27 and SADAG, were part of the demonstrators who handed a memorandum of demands to the country’s prosecuting authorities.

Nxumalo says this is not the first time they have approached the NPA seeking assistance. According to her, the families first did this eight years ago to try and draw attention to the plight of their loved ones who were still alive, but the organisation failed to prioritise the matter.

Over three months ago, Judge Mmonoa Teffo ruled that former Gauteng Health MEC, Qedani Mahlangu and the former Gauteng head of the Mental Health Directorate, Dr Makgabo Manamela, were directly responsible for nine of the patients’ deaths.

The patients were Virginia Machpelah, Deborah Phehla, Frans Dekker, Charity Ratsotso, Koketso Mogoerane, Terrence Chaba, Daniel Josiah, Matlakala Motsoahae, and Lucky Maseko.

Speaking to YNews, Nxumalo says they will not allow the NPA to slack any further.

She says they didn’t give the NPA a deadline to avoid creating hostility.

Andrew Pieterson, whose uncle is among the few Life Esidimeni patients who were found in severe health, says it’s time for justice to be served.

DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health, Jack Bloom, has also weighed in, urging authorities to swiftly act so that the families can have the closure they need.

The NPA has meanwhile assured all stakeholders of its commitment to ensure that justice is not only served but also seen to have been done.

“We are in the process of making a thorough, well-informed decision. It is very important to note that the outcome of the inquest does not necessarily equate to a trial ready case, as there may be additional criminal investigations that need to be conducted. However, the DPP is prioritising the matter, and a decision will be taken and communicated,” the prosecuting authority told YNews.