Five years after the Life Esidimeni tragedy, when at least 144 people died under disturbing circumstances, families of the victims are still angry, reports the Mail & Guardian Online.
On 19 July, a formal inquest into the disaster will start in the Gauteng High Court (Pretoria) before Judge Mmonoa Teffo. The Life Esidimeni Memorial Portal, which seeks to help and assist families of those suffering from mental illness and anxiety, went live this week.
Sasha Stevenson, head of health for advocacy group Section27, said July’s judicial inquiry would assist in bringing about much needed criminal accountability and answers for the desperate families of the deceased. ‘As much as the state has taken formal responsibility for what happened, we also need professional accountability from the medical professionals who were involved in this tragedy. The inquest will be an opportunity for the judge to establish all necessary prosecution,’ said Stevenson.