Suspended Gauteng Mental Health Director, Dr Makgabo Manamela’s medical certificate has been submitted to the Life Esidimeni hearings to prove that she had indeed gone to see a doctor on Tuesday.
The doctor’s note was however only forwarded by email Wednesday morning and not by close of business on Tuesday as her legal representative had promised.
Manamela failed to appear for her second day of testimony at the hearings in Parktown, Johannesburg on Tuesday, saying she was not well.
That sparked a protest by angry family members.
Evidence leader Patrick Ngutshana read the doctors note: “This is to certify that Dr M Manamela is unfit for duty from 21 November 2017 to 22 November 2017 and she may resume duty on the 23rd of November 2017 due to severe stress. And it is signed by the responsible doctor, who is Dr J Steyn.”
Judge Moseneke says we will hear on Thursday, whether to infer that giving evidence should be equeated with duty.
