Life Esidimeni Tragedy

Question 1

Introduction key points

Answer 1

• Painful moment in history of SA
• Failure that resulted into 144 lives lost

CRITICALLY EXAMINE
- Events that unfolded
- Projects leaders failure
- Violation of bill of rights
- And constitution by government officials
- Potential opportunities for a better outcome.

Question 2

1. Life Esidimeni Tragedy Unveiled

Answer 2

• 2016
• Gauteng Department of Health
• Under leadership of former MEC: Qedani Mahlangu made decision to terminate contract with the life esidimeni group.
• Private healthcare provider
• Move patients to NGO’s because cut-costs, made clear to overseer that there was a deadline and timeframe to work in which led to the projects mismanagement.
• NGO’s lacked infrastructure, staffing and resources to provide.

Question 3

II. Leadership Failure in the NGO

Answer 3

• Indivual in charge for overseeing transfer of patients lacked preparedness.
• Discovered on 18 Sep 2018 through the ombudsman report that the MCE gave the project leader a deadline.
• Process Characterized:
• Inadequate planning
• A dearth of transparency
• Insufficient communication with families and stakeholders
• Due to absence of proper assesssments indiv were placed in facilities that were ill equipped to provide approriate care.
• Event represents a grave dereliction of duty.
• Decisions were made without notice for families and stakeholders involved, they were treated like recipients.

Question 4

III. Infringement of the Bill of Rights and Constitution

Answer 4

• April 2018 SAPS officially opened a 46 inquest dockets into the case.
• Pieter Luyt, the National Prosecuting Authority was the evidence leader of the inquest and the hearing presided over by Judge Mmonoa Teffo at the Pretoria High Court.
• Section 27 represented 44 bereaved families and provided joint inquest with hope to bring justice to those responsible for the death of 144 psychiatric patients.
• To this day, high ranking officials: Qedani Mahlangu, Dr Makghabo Manamela and Dr Barney Selebono have not been prosecuted. However they did face disciplinary hearings by professional bodies such as the Health Professions Council of South Africa.

Tragedy represents a severe violation of the bill of rights and constitution of SA.
1. Violation of right to life: Failure to ensure proper care and treatment result into death of 144 patients.
2. Neglect of Human Dignity: The deprolable conditions led to the patients being treated like animals at the different respective NGO’s.
3. Access to healthcare: NGO’s have to be approved by Department of Social Development and none of these were licensed or inspected for quality assessment which led to improper health care.

Question 5

IV. Missed Opps for a better outcome

Answer 5

The Life Esidimeni tragedy, which led to the loss of 144 lives, could have been avoided or at least mitigated if proper leadership, oversight, and adherence to legal and ethical obligations had been maintained. This section of the report examines some of the missed opportunities that could have averted this catastrophe.
1. Proper Planning and Assessment: If the GDOH, MEC, under provision of parliament members instructed DSD to do quality assessments, lives could have been saved.
2. Legal and Ethical Compliance: There was no ethicallity behind this case and civil action was only taken long after the case opened. If the NGO’s adhered to the qualities of a proper facility and if stakeholders were informed they could have made implemented a strategy or families could have reached out before hand, this would have been great help.