Premier David Makhura has accepted her resignation‚ saying: "Mahlangu understands. If something goes extremely wrong‚ you have to take direct responsibility."
She will be succeeded by Dr Gwen Ramokgopa‚ a former Deputy Minister of Health/
Makhura said the area of mental health has suffered huge neglect.
- These are the people to blame for the deaths of 94 patients - 18 key findings from the Health Ombud reportGovernment officials must face disciplinaries‚ apologise and get ready to pay compensation to the families of mental patients affected by the Gauteng health department's treatment of mental patients.
"There can be no passing of the buck to juniors. Health is about saving lives.
"The circumstances around the patients' lives are unacceptable‚" Makhura said.
"We will implement everything in the report."
The health ombudsman‚ Professor Malegapuru Makgoba‚ on Wednesday 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“.
Mahlangu was lashed by the ombud. He said he didn't know how she was unaware of how many people died. When she announced that 37 people died‚ 77 had already lost their lives‚ he said.
He also recommended the head of department and director be disciplined and possibly suspended.
He found that 27 NGOs that were used to take the patients were unlawful as they were unregistered.
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