Suspended Gauteng Mental Health Director Dr Makgabo Manamela says former health MEC Qedani Mahlangu and Head of the Department gave instructions for the transfer of mentally-ill patients from Life Esidimeni to ill-equipped NGOs.
Manamela is being cross-examined at the Esidimeni Arbitration under way in Parktown, Johannesburg.
She says the department’s plans in 2015 were to use psychiatric institutions and existing NGOs to place the patients who were being moved after the department’s contract with Life Esidimeni expired.
Asked why she moved the patients despite a shortage of beds, she said she was merely following instructions.
Retired Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke wanted to know why Manamela gave the go ahead for the patients to be moved to the facilities.
It also emerged during the hearings that one NGO went for months without being paid while another was forced to beg for donations for food from the community.
Manamela insists she inspected the NGO’s premises before the relocations.
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