IN 2016, South Africa witnessed one of its worst tragedies – 141 people with mental illness lost their lives. They died from neglect and starvation, allegedly at the hands of those supposed to protect them in the public health system.
Nearly eight years later and following an inquest into the deaths, which began virtually on July 18, 2021, Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, Judge Mmonoa Teffo is due to recommend to the National prosecuting Authority whether anyone should be held criminally liable for the death.
She is expected to deliver her judgment early next year.
Two health officials and the owner of an NGO will especially await the verdict, as Section27, which represented 44 of the victims’ families, called on the court to recommend that they be charged with culpable homicide.
They argued that former Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu,
