Parliament hears of Life Esidimeni deaths
Health Ombudsman Malegapuru Makgoba says the number of mentally ill patients who were moved from Life Esidimeni to NGOs in Gauteng has now risen to more than 100.
Makgoba is presenting his finding to Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Health.
Ninety-four mentally patients were initially mentioned as those transferred to NGOs who were operating illegally.
"We are still correlating, more data is coming in of deaths and for the purpose of this presentation, I would say that we are above 100. I can't say that it is the end," says Makgoba.
Makgoba says the data from the Gauteng Department of Health was problematic.
"26 of the people that died have two dates of death. Now, you can't die twice," says Makgoba.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi earlier urged South Africans to work together to ensure mentally ill patients are treated with dignity.
He briefed the media on their implementation of the health ombudsman's recommendations following the Life Esidimeni tragedy.
The bodies of nineteen mentally ill patients still have to be identified.
Motsoaledi said out of the ombudsman's 18 recommendations, they have so far implemented 11.
The minister said the World Health Organisation has specifically developed a plan to tackle the treatment of the mentally ill, because they are always last in line when it comes to health care.
He said what happened in Gauteng was the exact opposite of what was supposed to happen.
"It's not in line with the mental health care global plan. Even our own plan...the ombuds made that finding and said the plans was not followed, it was literally thrown away and something else was followed," said Motsoaledi.