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Life Esidimeni families picketing outside the NPA offices.
Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Section 27, is joining the families of the Life Esidimeni victims, in calling for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to pursue criminal charges against former Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu and the former Director of Mental Health in Gauteng Dr. Makgabo Manamela.
More than 140 disabled people died after being moved to unregistered facilities in 2015.
Section 27’s Executive Director Sasha Stevenson says, “It looks like there is sufficient evidence to essentially bring a prosecution that it seems that the actions, or the omissions of particular people caused certain deaths, that’s what the High Court Judge found. But then it’s the NPA that is independent, that can make the decision whether or not to prosecute.”
Stevenson adds, “The judge has found that on the face of it, there could be criminal charges in the form of culpable homicide charges that the NPA needs to make the decision, the NPA still hasn’t done that. As a result, these families who lost their loved ones are still awaiting the beginning of criminal justice and that just isn’t acceptable.”
