Ad-hoc Independent Appeals Tribunal to deal Life Esidimeni appeals
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has appointed an Ad-hoc Independent tribunal that will deal with the death of mentally-ill patients in Gauteng.
The tribunal will be headed by the retired Judge President of the Gauteng High Court, Judge Bernard Ngoepe and will process all appeals relating to Health Ombuds report into circumstances surrounding the deaths of mentally-ill patients who were transferred to NGOs from Life Esidimeni.
Ngoepe is joined by Prof. Brian Robertson, the retired professor of Psychiatry at the University of Cape Town and Prof. Hoosen Coovadia, retired professor of Pediatrics at the University of Natal.
"The Independent Ad-Hoc tribunal is appointed with immediate effect and is expected to conclude the appeal process within a period of two months," says Health spokesperson Joe Maila.
More than 100 psychiatric patients died, when they were moved from Life Esidimeni to various NGO's in the province.