The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Monday set out priorities for new health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa including the safety of the mentally ill patients who were unlawfully transferred from Life Esidimeni to unlicenced NGOs and the review the R87-million SmartPurse contract.

The DA said SmartPurse was failing “abysmally” to pay 8 000 Community Health Workers on time.

Ramokgopa was sworn in as new health MEC on Monday to replace Qedani Mahlangu who resigned last week a day before the Ombudsman’s damning report on the deaths of 94 mentally ill patients.

“New Gauteng Health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa faces a huge challenge in restoring confidence in the health department which has been shown to be uncaring and deceitful,” said Jack Bloom, a Gauteng DA MPL.

“Her previous stint as Health MEC from 1999 to 2006 was marked by mediocrity and an ugly spat at the end with her head of department Dr Letitia Rispel.”

He said Ramokgopa should ensure that all the remaining mental health patients are safely transferred from unlicensed NGOs to facilities where they will receive proper care.

“As existing public hospitals are already over-crowded, she should request Life Healthcare to re-open the facilities where mental patients were previously treated.”

Bloom said Ramokgopa should speedily appoint new top management “with real skills and ethical standards. The criterion should be competence, not political loyalty”.

He said the review of the R87-million contract with SmartPurse must also be a priority and that all suppliers must be paid on time within the legally stipulated 30 days.