The death of Julian Pieterson‚ from Newclare‚ brought to 39 the number who have died since being moved from Lifecare Esidimeni in June this year‚ said Bloom‚ before adding “there may be more”.
“His family had visited him at the NGO in Pretoria where they described the conditions as ‘terrible’‚ with no proper medication and patients not well fed‚” Bloom said on Monday.
He also noted the language used by Deputy Minister of Social Development Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu‚ who recently revealed that her brother was one of the psychiatric patients who died when he “got transferred illegally like all the other families”.
Bloem said Bogopane-Zulu made the comments in an address at Constitution Hill on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities – December 3.
He quoted her thus: “As the government‚ we acknowledge upfront what happened in Gauteng was wrong‚ the intentions were good but the execution was a disaster‚ absolute disaster. Patients’ medical assessments were not done‚ the referrals were not properly done.”
Bloom said this “devastating indictment… adds to pressure on… Mahlangu to resign or be fired by Premier David Makhura”.
“It is utterly shameless that she continues to deny accountability and is protected by Premier Makhura‚” he added.
Last week‚ Makhura told the families of patients who had died that “the de-institutionalisation of mental patients could have been handled better”.
"I would like to assure the bereaved families that I will take all the necessary action to ensure justice prevails‚" Makhura promised in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.
The deceased patients were amongst the approximately 1800 patients moved from the Life Esidimeni facilities to NGOs after its contract was terminated in a move to save money.
National Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has ordered the Health Ombudsman to probe the deaths.
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