The Health Ombudsman’s report into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of mentally ill patients in Gauteng Province, recommended that an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process be established to determine a way forward such as mechanisms of redress and compensation.

The Health Ombudsman’s recommendations were also that, the process must also include an unconditional apology to the families and relatives of the deceased patients and surviving patients who had been subjected to the trauma of being moved around.

Around 21 July 2017, the representatives of family members of mentally ill patients affected by the Gauteng Mental Health Marathon Project and the State parties, proposed the appointment of the Former Deputy Chief Justice Moseneke to lead the ADR Process for the Life Esidimeni Project. The proposal was accepted by all the stakeholders and Justice Moseneke accepted to lead the process.

Justice Moseneke invites member of the media to the Arbitration proceedings which will take place as follows:

Date: From 9 October to 30 October 2017

Time: 9:30 am- 16:30 pm

Venue: Emoyeni Conference Centre, 15 Jubilee Road Parktown, Johannesburg

Enquiries: Mr Obakeng Van Dyk, Head of the Arbitrator’s Office, 060 980 4802 Obakeng.VanDyk@gauteng.gov.za