Questions to witnesses in Life Esidimeni case should not be ‘combative’, says advocate
The state has agreed to present evidence to the Life Esidimeni arbitration process but does not want its witnesses subjected to hardline questioning. The government will have two chances to present evidence and give testimony on the Life Esidimeni tragedy. First, health ombud Malegapuru Makgoba and the director-general in the office of the Gauteng premier, Phindile Baleni, will present evidence on what transpired leading up to the deaths of more than 100 mentally ill patients. This will be followed by the testimony of 17 families. Last, the state’s political heads, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, Gauteng health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa and Gauteng premier David Makhura, will appear as state witnesses and convey the apology and way forward for the province. On Monday, state advocate Tebogo Hutamo said that while the state had voluntarily subjected itself to the arbitration process, the line of questioning need not be adversarial in nature. "Clarity-seeking questions must be distinguished...
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