THE Life Esidimeni Inquest was postponed until Wednesday, 30 November, after Dr Makgabo Manamela told the inquest she wasn’t feeling well.
Legal representatives expressed sympathy for the former head of mental health in the Gauteng health department, saying she had been on the witness stand for weeks.
On Monday, Advocate Laurance Hodes, who is representing former health MEC Qedani Mahlangu, concluded his cross-examination with Manamela with a bombshell.
Hodes told the Pretoria High Court that Mahlangu said she was not responsible for the deaths of 144 mental health patients as she relied on the medical specialists and doctors throughout the transfer of patients. When asked to comment, Manamela said she was also not responsible and denied claims that she hid important information from Mahlangu relating to the challenges faced during the implementation of the transfer project of patients.
Later in the day, Manamela began her cross-examination with Advocate Adila Hassim, who is representing affected families.
Hassim asked Manamela what other central issues of importance were there when terminating the Life Esidimeni Service Level Agreement. Manamela stated patients’ functionality, improvement on their mental health conditions and that patients’ human rights should not be compromised.
Hassim asked Manamela whether she agreed the patients were vulnerable and could not represent themselves as they were in the care of the state. Manamela agreed. The inquest’s been established to determine the cause of deaths of 144 mental patients who died during the Marathon Project and whether anyone should be held criminally liable.
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