Opposition parties, the Democratic Alliance (DA) and ActionSA on Tuesday demanded accountability in the long-drawn-out Life Esidimeni case, calling for former Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu’s prosecution.

While hailing the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA’s) decision to prosecute those responsible for the Life Esidimeni mental health patients’ deaths as a necessary step, both parties remarked that justice had been delayed for too long.

In 2016, 144 mental healthcare patients died following the Gauteng Department of Health's decision to terminate its contract with Life Esidimeni to cut costs. The patients were moved to ill-equipped NGOs, leading to widespread neglect.

The DA is calling those identified by the inquest to be prosecuted on the full range of possible charges including culpable homicide.

DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health Dr Jack Bloom said politicians should not escape accountability for gross negligence that leads to suffering and death.

“Successful prosecutions will serve as a deterrent by showing real consequences for those who abuse vulnerable patients,” he said.

ActionSA Member of Parliament Dr Kgosi Letlape described the tragedy as a catastrophic failure of leadership, ethics and governance.

The party pointed out that the 2021 inquest already identified Mahlangu and former Mental Health director Dr Makgabo Manamela as accountable for the deaths.

Letlape highlighted that prosecutions must mark the beginning of accountability.

“South Africans deserve a healthcare system that protects the most vulnerable, not one that exposes them to harm through negligence and mismanagement and those who enabled this tragedy should be charged for criminal negligence,” he stated.

ActionSA reiterated its call for stringent consequence management for all those responsible and institutional reform in public healthcare to prevent a recurrence, as well as improved oversight mechanisms to ensure similar incidents do not occur.