Cape Town - The Life Esidimeni inquest into the deaths of 144 patients who died in 2016 after being moved to various NGOs in Gauteng on Monday heard that 93 deaths occurred the year before.
The inquest on Monday heard evidence from former Life Esidimeni managing director Morgan Mkhatshwa, who was examined by former Gauteng health MEC Qedani Mahlangu’s legal representative, Laurence Hodes.
Hodes' questions focused on attempting to help clean Mahlangu's image.
He also focused on the argument that she could not be held responsible for the deaths that took place after patients were moved.
Hodes asked Mkhatshwa about the deaths that had been observed at Life Esidimeni over the years while the state's mentally ill patients were under the organization's care.
Hodes put it to Mkhatshwa that reports from the Gauteng department of health show that deaths occurred regularly at health facilities.
From 2015 to 2016, 93 deaths had occurred at Esidimeni and eight deaths had occurred in 2016 - as the department had terminated its contract with Life Esidimeni.
Hodes said there was an average of 80 to 90 deaths per year at Life Esidimeni annually.
He asked Mkhatshwa how deaths occurred and whether it could occur under normal circumstances.
Mkhatshwa agreed that natural causes and comorbidities could result in deaths.
Hodes said: “You cannot attribute any particular death to my client Miss Mahlangu?”
Mkhatshwa replied: “Death might be a natural cause for some and it depends on the conditions. I am not saying people would not have died if they were at Esidimeni.”
Earlier, Mkhatshwa was also questioned on the ballooning costs charged by Life Esidimeni to the government.
The institution had been housing mentally ill patients for 36 years.
The evidence presented by Hodes showed the department had been charged R209 million between 2011 and 2012.
From 2012 to 2013 the costs had risen to R224 million, and for 2013 to 2014 the costs charged were over R251 million.
By 2015, the costs had ballooned to R323 million.
Hodes questioned Mkhatshwa about the rising costs and how the institution justified the cost.
Mkhatswa said there were never the same patients at all times at the institution.
He also insisted that there were years in which Life Esidimeni was not allowed to increase prices despite rising costs.
He said price increase had to be looked at broadly and that in many instances they were backed by a rising consumer price index.
“There were certain years that we struggled to get tariff increases. All those factors would need a clear analysis to be done,” Mkhatshwa said.
The inquest continues.
Cape Times