Latest news with #LifeEsidimeni
eNCA
3 days ago
- Health
- eNCA
Stage production recounts Life Esidimeni tragedy
JOHANNESBURG - The Life Esidimeni tragedy shook South Africa to its core. 144 mentally ill patients died after government moved them out of private healthcare facilities to state-subsidised ones. READ: SA State Theatre launches streaming platform Isililo recounts the collective traumas of the families who lost their lost their loved ones. Producer, Siyabonga Mdubeki, had a talk with eNCA's Abigail Visagie on his production that will be showcased at SA state theatre in June.
The Citizen
6 days ago
- Health
- The Citizen
Jona Vaughan's closure rumours denied despite hardships
AFTER rumours that the Jona Vaughan Home for the Handicapped in Amanzimtoti might be closed down and its residents transferred to other facilities, the home's parents' association said it fears another Life Esidimeni tragedy might unfold if that is allowed to happen. Also read: Grim festive season for Jona Vaughan staff The Life Esidimeni tragedy involved the deaths of 144 patients at psychiatric facilities in Gauteng from causes including starvation and neglect. The patients died after they were removed from Life Esidimeni, a private healthcare provider, in 2016, and relocated to cheaper care centres. The Jona Vaughan Home for the Handicapped is a non-profit organisation dedicated to providing care and residency to 69 handicapped persons, 40% of whom are abandoned or orphaned. The centre is administered by Durban and Coastal Mental Health (DCMH), which in turn is funded by the Department of Health and the Department of Social Development. The treasurer of the parents' association, Charmaine Lombard, said she heard from two sources that the Department of Health may consider withdrawing all funding from the end of June. 'There is no other facility like Jona Vaughan to cater for such profound disabilities. If Jona Vaughan were to close its doors, the residents would be moved to facilities outside of Durban. This would be detrimental to our residents as the Jona Vaughan Home is the only home that many of the residents know,' said Lombard. The funding that the facility receives from DCMH is never enough to cover all its day-to-day operating costs, which has led the parents' association to spearhead several fundraising initiatives. Lombard said the staff, whom many of the centre's residents regard as their parents, have not been paid in full since April. The water and electricity bill stands at R1.8 million, and the municipality has issued a notice to disconnect the supply on June 2. 'We feel that these issues are serious and critical and require a long-standing resolution, as we are the voices of the very people who deserve to be treated with care, dignity, kindness and respect. Just because the residents are mentally and physically challenged does not exclude them from the basic human rights they are entitled to,' she said. DCMH's CEO, Mbonisi Sibisi, stated that there have been no discussions regarding the closure of Jona Vaughn; however, an agreement between DCMH and DOH is set to expire in March 2026. 'DCMH has consistent meetings with DOH where we discuss the performance of the centre and other related issues. Our organisation is an NPO and largely depends on subsidies and donations. The subsidy only covers a fraction of the centre's costs,' said Sibisi. He also urged the public to keep supporting Jona Vaughan. How to help: A Back-a-buddy campaign to raise funds for Jona Vaughan Home for the Handicapped has been started. Go to to donate. The home is also hosting a work party on June 7, from 08:00, open to the public who may wish to assist. For more South Coast Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox. Do you have more information pertaining to this story? Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Eyewitness News
14-05-2025
- Health
- Eyewitness News
Lesufi apologises to cancer patients for delays in treatment at Gauteng hospitals
JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has apologised to cancer patients for the delays in treatment at the province's public hospitals. Earlier this year, the Gauteng High Court ordered the provincial Department of Health to provide oncology radiation services to about 3,000 patients who have been on a waiting list for about three years. The Gauteng government has since been granted leave to appeal the judgment, which it says would jeopardise the standard of oncology care at its hospitals if implemented. At the Gauteng legislature sitting on Tuesday, Lesufi acknowledged this situation could have been handled better by the government. READ: Gauteng DOH welcomes court granting it leave to appeal judgment on provision of radiation services "I want to take this opportunity this opportunity to apologise to all cancer patients, it was not our wish to put them through these difficulties. Unfortunately, when you have court cases and a backlog, it is very, very difficult for the department to balance the two, but this is not an excuse. I have received a detailed report on how this backlog will be eliminated, and I remain convinced this backlog will be eliminated and once more, my heartfelt apologies to the cancer patients in our province." Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng spokesperson on health, Jack Bloom, said Lesufi's apology has unfortunately come too late for some of the cancer patients. "It's far too late for hundreds of cancer patients who have died because they didn't get radiation treatment within the required 90 days. So if they don't get it within this specific required period, they are going to suffer and die, and their lives could have been saved, and really, in my view, this is as bad as the Life Esidimeni disaster." On Monday, Gauteng Treasury revealed the provincial health department underspent its budget this financial year 2024/25 by more than R720 million, something Bloom says is unacceptable.
IOL News
02-05-2025
- Health
- IOL News
DA takes legal action against Gauteng Legislature speaker over blocked motion on Health MEC
Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko faces growing scrutiny as the DA takes legal action, accusing her of failing to address Gauteng's cancer treatment crisis, causing unnecessary delays and preventable deaths among patients. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has filed court papers against the Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL), Morakane Mosupyoe, accusing her of acting unconstitutionally by blocking a motion aimed at censuring the MEC for Health, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko. The motion, brought forward by DA health spokesperson Jack Bloom, sought to hold the MEC accountable for her alleged role in the ongoing denial of timely cancer treatment to patients in the province,a crisis the DA says is leading to preventable suffering and death. As previously reported by The Star, at the centre of the dispute is the Gauteng Department of Health's (GDoH) handling of cancer treatment services. Civil society organisations—Section27, the Cancer Alliance, and the Treatment Action Campaign have taken the department to court, accusing it of failing to spend more than R784 million allocated to address the province's cancer treatment backlog. The DA further claims that a separate R250 million budget from the previous year also went unspent. The GDoH has denied these allegations, stating that it continues to engage with a range of interest groups. It insists, however, on adhering to policy-led governance and upholding the principle of separation of powers. The DA contends that the MEC's failure to effectively collaborate with advocacy organisations has deepened the crisis, leading to prolonged delays in life-saving radiation therapy and avoidable deaths allegedly surpassing those of the Life Esidimeni tragedy. The DA argues that Speaker Mosupyoe dismissed the motion on flimsy procedural grounds, thereby blocking debate on a critical public health issue. The party maintains that this undermines democratic oversight and silences legitimate opposition within the legislature. 'This is a scandalous situation,' said Mike Moriarty, DA Gauteng caucus chief whip. 'The fact that the ANC contrives to block normal democratic processes is appalling. But the DA will not roll over. We will go to court to stand for the rights of cancer patients and other Gauteng residents, whose livelihood is harmed by a dysfunctional and corrupt government.' The DA further accuses Premier Panyaza Lesufi's administration of wasting taxpayer money by appealing a previous court ruling that compelled the provincial government to provide life-saving cancer treatment. According to the DA, these ongoing delays not only jeopardise patient lives but also divert critical resources away from service delivery. 'Today, we are defending cancer patients and exposing whether the MEC is worthy of office. ''Tomorrow, it might well involve corruption and maladministration. Whatever the case, our constitution provides for robust debate in a legislature like the GPL,' Moriarty said. The DA views the Speaker's decision as part of a broader trend by the ANC to suppress opposition motions in the Legislature. However, it believes this case is too serious to ignore and is now asking the court to declare the Speaker's ruling unconstitutional, unlawful, and invalid, and to have it set aside. 'So that this motion can serve, and that it becomes a precedent allowing similar motions to be tabled in the future ensuring that any government, including Lesufi's ANC government, is held to account in the glare of public scrutiny,' said Moriarty. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. IOL Politics
