Why the state media gag amid 118 psychiatric patients’ deaths?
As arbitration hearings continue in the Life Esidimeni saga, government lawyers have stopped the media from speaking to families and lawyers‚ preventing basic fact-checking, writes Katharine Child
Government lawyers in the hearings about the deaths of mental health patients moved out of Life Esidimeni’s care, have managed to stop the media from speaking to families and lawyers‚ even preventing fact-checking of what journalists have heard in complicated testimony. The arbitration process is discussing why and how, last year, 1‚712 people were taken out of Life Esidimeni homes and hurriedly moved into hospitals or ill-equipped non-governmental organisations‚ leading to more than a hundred deaths. The state admits that its handling of the disaster was wrong, saying all parties are working together to find answers‚ and give families closure and financial compensation. The proceedings are open to families and journalists and are broadcast live, but media interviews with anyone involved are not allowed. The lawyers are legally entitled to do this‚ but it is not in the spirit of a healing arbitration process.
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