Makhura promises NGOs will be paid by June 30

Gauteng Premier David Makhura File picture: Jacques Naude/ANA Pictures

Gauteng Premier David Makhura File picture: Jacques Naude/ANA Pictures

Published Jun 28, 2017

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Johannesburg - Gauteng Premier David Makhura says Non Profit Organisations (NGOs) who were appointed to care for mentally ill patients will be paid by Friday this week.

This follows an outcry from some NGOs who said they have not been paid in months and fear another Life Esidemeni incident if they are not paid for their care services.

NGO San Michele Home, based in Brakpan, said on Wednesday that it would go back to court to force the Gauteng Department of Health to pay them their subsidies owed for three months. 

The home houses about 204 of mentally ill patients. It wants the department to be held in contempt for not paying despite the court ordering them to do so.

Makhura on Wednesday mentioned the payment issues in his provincial budget vote at the Gauteng Legislature, saying he would make sure that they are paid by Friday.

He said his office was working with the families affected by the Life Esidimeni incident where over a hundred mentally-ill patients died due to neglect. 

"Our ultimate goal is to reach closure and finality on this matter  doing so in a manner that takes into account the wishes of affected families," said Makhura. 

He said Gauteng Health MEC Gwen Ramokgopha was working on implementing the Health Ombudsman recommendations and changing the province's health care system. 

Makhura is also working on a complete overhaul of the province's health care system. 

@ZintleMahlati 

Politics and Development Hub 

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