Deputy Director General for Mental Health Services in Gauteng, Hannah Jacobus, has revealed that it was former MEC Qedani Mahlangu who made the decision to terminate the long standing contract with Life Esidimeni.
Departmental officials who have already testified had refused to name the decision-maker only saying it was a decision from above.
This includes former HOD Dr Barney Selebano who said it was a departmental decision.
143 mentally-ill patients died after being transferred to ill-equipped NGOs.
Jacobus made the revelation during cross-examination by Legal Aid SA’s Advocate Lill Crouse at the Life Esidimeni hearings in Johannesburg.
Earlier, Jacobus said her former boss Dr Makgabo Manamela threatened her with disciplinary action when she expressed dissent over the unlawful relocation of psychiatric patients.
