The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng says there must be nothing less than full disclosure, when top politicians appear at the Life Esidimeni Arbitration Hearings next year.
Former Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu is due to testify on the 22nd of next month, followed by Gauteng Premier David Makhura and National Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi.
Suspended Head of Department Barney Selebano ended his testimony on Thursday with an apology for the deaths of 143 mentally ill patients after bungled relocations.
The DA’s Jack Bloom says Makhura needs to answer why he failed to fire Mahlangu immediately after 36 deaths were revealed, in response to his question in the Gauteng Legislature 15 months ago.
“The Premier of Gauteng needs to account, particularly why he didn’t fire Qedani Mahlangu immediately – the deaths became known in September last year. I think if he had fired the former Health MEC then, lives could have been saves, because she was continuing to cover up. And her officials were continuing to cover up. So I think the accountability of the Gauteng Premier, definitely needs to be assessed at these hearings.”
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