94 unlawful deaths and still counting - Health Ombud Malegapuru Makgoba lashes government

A total of 94 mentally ill patients died when they were moved from the licensed Life Esidimeni private homes to 27 unlicensed facilities.

Patients died of starvation and lack of water in the overcrowded NGOs they were placed‚ according to the health ombudsman‚ Professor Malegapuru Makgoba.

He has found that the Department of Health was negligent when it moved 1‚900 patients from Life healthcare.

He said the number of 94 fatalities is provisional as bodies remain unidentified in morgues and some families are still coming forward with names of dead people. His report is titled‚ “94 silent deaths and still counting“.

Makgoba spent 80 hours listening to family members and inspectors during his investigation.

Here's a link to the full report:

The NGOs were overcrowded‚ some did not have qualified staff with the requisite skills for the patients. This was in addition to a lack of safety and security and even proper heating in winter.

Families travelled from across the province to hear the details of why their loved ones died.

One woman was sobbing as Makgoba spoke‚ shaking her head and wiping tears away.