The state has reached an agreement with Section 27 and Solidarity that families of the Life Esidimeni deceased mentally ill patients will each receive R200 000 for funeral expenses and emotional shock.
The families will also receive counselling. However, there’s no agreement yet on constitutional damages.
There’s also been no agreement between the state and Legal Aid SA which represents the survivors of the Esidimeni tragedy.
144 mentally ill patients died after being transferred from Life Esidimeni facilities to unlicensed NGOs.
Solidarity’s advocate Dirk Groenewald says, “Justice I can confirm that after deliberating with my colleagues from the state again, we have reached agreement to settle our common law damages in the amount of R200- 000 for each family member. So that will include the amount for funeral expenses as well as emotional shock.”
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