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Motsoaledi calls for probe into possible abduction of Life Esidimeni patients

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Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says there should be an investigation into the possible abduction or kidnapping of mentally ill patients from Life Esidimeni facilities.

Motsoaledi, who is the final witness to testify at the Life Esidimeni hearings in Parktown, Johannesburg, says patients were not properly discharged from the facility.

Section27 has suggested that 12 more mentally-ill patients have died over and above the 144 confirmed death toll.

Motsoaledi has expressed disappointment that human rights were ignored.

“Doctors have got powers to protect patients from any artificial discharge and that is our mechanism, like the Mental Health Review Board, and all those mechanisms were breeched. That’s what makes me cry about this situation that we put up an Act to protect human rights and the human rights are completely thrown out the window, all the systems that you just ignore them.”

“So I am not being a populist when I am saying I am wondering whether this does not border on criminal activity because these are the people that have more power than me. The doctor in discharging a patient has more powers than me as a Minister.”

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