President Jacob Zuma has authorised the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to probe the Gauteng health department’s expenditure patterns and assess the conduct of its officials and nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) who were involved in the tragedy that led to the deaths of over 100 mentally ill patients. The announcement came a week after the South African Human Rights Commission said it would investigate and host hearings on “key issues” related to mental disability and access to healthcare services in SA. This would also include the deaths of patients who were transferred from Life Esidimeni to various NGOs. The Presidency’s probe comes soon after the report by the health ombudsman, which revealed that reckless management of state resources and negligence were central to the deaths of the patients, eventually resulting in the departure of then health MEC Qedani Mahlangu. The Presidency’s Bongani Ngqulunga said the SIU would look into unauthorised, irregular and wasteful expenditu...
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