Court hears how some Life Esidimeni patients’ identities were not recorded by NGOs

The High Court in Pretoria has learned that some patients’ identities were not recorded by the NGOs after they were moved from the Life Esidimeni facilities in June 2016.

One of the patients, Charity Ratsotso died whilst in the care of an NGO.

He was almost buried as a pauper after the NGO couldn’t trace the patient’s next of kin.

The legal representative of former Gauteng Head of Health Department, Dr Makgabo Manamela, Advocate Russel Sibara questioned Dr Mvuyiso Talatala who’s being cross-examined at the inquest to provide clarity on the matter.

Sibara asked, “I know that there was a complaint about the late Charity Ratsotso that the family wasn’t notified about his death. The family was notified when he was placed and when he was discharged to Anchor. Do you know that doctor?”

Manamela responded by saying, “ Yes I see counsel.”

Sibara  questioned, “Now after the discharge at first Mr Dorothy Franks denied that they him in their facility. But I produced proof that he was produced to them. Do you agree with me that while he was at Anchor he was identified as Charity Ratsotso not an unknown patient?”

“Yes my lady,” Manamela responded.

‘Lost significant weight’

Earlier, an expert witness, Dr. Mvuyiso Talatala, told the Life Esidimeni Inquest that some patients lost significant weight before succumbing to a variety of diseases.

Talatala, a specialist psychiatrist, testified that some patients died of gangrene, lung infection and pneumonia.

The health ombudsman revealed that the 144 patients died of hunger, dehydration, and neglect during and after they were moved from the Life Esidimeni facilities to ill-equipped and unregistered Non-Governmental Organisations in June 2016.

Talatala argued the transfer of critically ill patients like Virginia Makhaphela from the Life Esidimeni to ill-equipped NGOs could have contributed to their deaths.

“My lady, there’s a connection, whilst the pathologist does not link the gangrene to the deaths. But the pathologist doesn’t find anything else in her report. Doesn’t give us an alternative. But gives us that and the dehydration, the only things that were found.”

Last month, former Gauteng Health employee, Sophie Lenkwane testified that one of the NGOs wanted to give one of the patients a pauper’s burial despite having family: