By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Former Gauteng health MEC Qedani Mahlangu told says the move that resulted in the deaths of 141 mental health patients could have been handled better.
Mahlangu was on Friday grilled by the state’s advocate Willem Pienaar on her role in the seemingly rushed process of moving about 2,000 mental health patients from Life Esidimeni facilities to NGOs around the province.
Department officials were given six months to transfer patients from the Esidimeni psychiatric hospital when the facility’s contract with the state was terminated to cut costs.
Some officials are believed to have requested another six months to a year to iron out issues linked to the transfer project.
But a further extension was denied.
While Mahlangu admitted that she was aware of requests for an extension, she denied the project was rushed.
Advocate Pienaar asked: “The project committee requested an extension of time – minimum of six months and maximum of a year. You were not inclined to grant that. Is that correct?
Mahlangu replied: “[A] Three months extension was granted after deliberations with officials in the meeting.”
Advocate Pienaar: “You weren’t amenable to granting a longer extension? Is that correct?”
Mahlangu: “The decision of the meeting was that the extension must be granted for a further three months, which would make the entire process nine months in the end.”
During the week, Mahlangu apologised for the deaths of the patients, which she described as “regrettable” and told the inquest that she had been greatly affected by the tragedy and was undergoing therapy to help her deal with it.
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