SIU to probe Life Esidimeni tragedy
President Cyril Ramaphosa has given the go-ahead for the
Special Investigations Unit (SIU) to investigate the Gauteng Department of
Health's Life Esidimeni and KwaZulu-Natal water utility, Umgeni Water.
Spokesperson to the Presidency, Khusela Diko, says the SIU is going to investigate allegations regarding unlawful conduct in respect to the affairs of the two state entities.
"With regard to Life Healthcare Esidimeni, the SIU will probe allegations of irregularities in procurement by the Gauteng Department of Health, its employees or by contractors on behalf of the Department," says Diko.
Over 143 mental patients lost their lives when the department released them into the care of non-governmental organisations in 2015.
This comes a day after the Democratic Alliance (DA) unveiled a billboard mourning the patients' deaths, as well as those killed in pit toilets.
The DA leader, Mmusi Maimane described the billboard as a memorial of the victims - and not politicking.
Speaking to scores of the party supporters at Pat Mbatha Busway in Newtown, Johannesburg Maimane said it is time South Africans admit the "ANC is killing our people."
Maimane criticised the government of Ramaphosa for allowing those responsible for the deaths of Life Esidimeni roam the streets free.
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However, Diko says the SIU investigation aims to "...put the matter to rest. So that those who are criminally liable a brought to book."
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