DA: GP Health had the money for Life Esidimeni
The Democratic Alliance (DA) claims the health department in Gauteng failed to spend R217 million of its budget, funds it argues could have prevented the Life Esidimeni tragedy.
The DA says the money should have been used to keep psychiatric patients at Life Esidimeni.
143 people died after patients were moved to unlicensed and ill-equipped NGO's.
The DA's Jack Bloom disputes claims by suspended health HOD, Barney Selebano, that the contract was cancelled because "[they] we were told that there was no money".
Selebano testified on Tuesday at the Life Esidimeni arbitration hearings.
Selebano blamed the cancellation of the contract on financial pressures experienced by the department.
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"The mystery deepens why former Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu was so adamant about cancelling the Esidimeni contract even though she had the budget to pay for it and mental health professionals warned her about the consequences," says Bloom.
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The Gauteng health department's spokesperson, Lesemang Matuka, has confirmed the underspent amount at R216 790 182.38.