Life Esidimeni death toll revised to 143

Health Ombudsman Professor Malegepuru Makgoba has confirmed the number of patients who have died as a result of the Life Esidimeni transfers now stands at 143.

Makgoba - who investigated the tragedy and released a report - was at the arbitration hearings today to explain the contents of his report. 

Initially, Makgoba had reported the number of psychiatric patient deaths as 118 but with further deaths having occurred - the figure was up until recently - put at 141.

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Chairperson of the arbitration process, Justice Dikgang Moseneke says it's horrific.

"When in the end 143 people die - there are three different stages. There's an additional 21 and an additional six. That gives you 143. Part of the horror is that you even have to reconcile these numbers in this complicated way which gives a number of how many people have died," he says. 

The patients died after the Gauteng Health Department terminated its contract with Life Esidimeni as a cost-cutting measure, moving the patients to various NGOs around the province - some of which were operating unlawfully.