Security is expected to be tight ahead of the much anticipated appearance of former Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu at the Life Esidimeni Arbitration hearings in Parktown, Johannesburg.
Mahlangu is expected to be grilled over the department’s decision to abruptly end the contract it had with Life Esidimeni for about 36 years, and take mentally-ill patients to NGOs who had neither the capacity nor the expertise to care for them.
One hundred and forty three of them subsequently died.
Civil society movements are also expected to march to the venue in Parktown.
The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) and the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) say the march seeks to address their concerns in the Gauteng health system.
TAC General Secretary Anele Yawa says they believe there’s a need for mass action to show support for the Life Esidimeni victims and their families.
Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) says it expects police to arrest Mahlangu.
This after it opened criminal cases against Mahlangu and senior department officials as well as Gauteng Premier David Makhura in February last year over the Esidimeni tragedy.
Acting EFF Gauteng Chairperson Mandisa Mashego expressed disappointment that no one has been arrested despite all the evidence emerging at the hearings.
