The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said on Monday that implicated individuals in the drawn-out Life Esidimeni investigation and legal proceedings will be prosecuted, giving families a ray of hope after the events of 2015 and 2016.

One-hundred and forty-one vulnerable psychiatric patients died after they were unlawfully removed from licensed care facilities to unregistered and ill-equipped NGOs.

“The matter has since stood as one of the most serious human rights violations in democratic South Africa. For nearly a decade, families of the deceased have endured prolonged delays in the pursuit of justice. These delays were occasioned by the complexity of the case, the scale of the evidence, and the necessity of ensuring a thorough and legally sound process. The NPA acknowledges the pain and frustration experienced by affected families during this period,” the NPA said.

It revealed that the delay in the NPA’s prosecutions announcement was owing to the retirement of National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Shamila Bathoi, and the need to brief incoming NDPP Andy Mothibi about the case.

The inquest into the tragedy found that the Gauteng Department of Health was negligent resulting in the deaths of patients and it identified individuals for prosecution.

“After careful consideration of the inquest findings, supporting evidence, and applicable legal standards, the NPA has resolved that there is sufficient basis to institute criminal prosecutions. The charges are expected to include culpable homicide, among others, against those deemed responsible for the unlawful and negligent actions that led to the deaths,” the NPA revealed.