Life Esidimeni Inquest: Journal of a grieving sister

Posted in: Gauteng, Healthcare system, Latest, Mental Health, Provinces

The Life Esidimeni Inquest that started in July has been postponed until 15 November. This is the fifth postponement, meaning another agonising wait for family members of the deceased. The Inquest is crucial to determine who should be held criminally liable for the deaths of 144 mental healthcare users in 2016. Here one family member, Christine Nxumalo, shares in her own words some extracts from her journal on the Inquest proceedings, the long wait, and dealing with grief.

Life Esidimeni Inquest: Journal of a grieving sister

OPINION: The long and painful road to the Life Esidimeni inquest

Posted in: Gauteng, Healthcare system, Latest, Mental Health

Although individual families of the mental healthcare users who died after they were discharged from Life Esidimeni in 2016 have been compensated for the violation of their constitutional rights, the actors responsible for the deaths, suffering, and torture of the mental healthcare patients have yet to be held criminally accountable. But that could change after a formal Judicial Inquest into the deaths, starting at the Pretoria High Court on 19 July 2021.

OPINION: The long and painful road to the Life Esidimeni inquest

In-depth: Can CHWs help expand access to mental health services in SA?

Posted in: Latest, Mental Health

Over 30% of those living in South Africa have experienced a depressive, anxiety, or substance use disorder in their lifetime, according to a national survey. Yet studies show only 15% of those with mental health conditions receive treatment. Laura Owings explores what role community healthcare workers can play in addressing this lack of access to care.

In-depth: Can CHWs help expand access to mental health services in SA?

Vindication of the Rights of People with Mental Illnesses to be People

Posted in: Latest

On Monday, March 19 2018 in hours immediately after Justice Dikgang Moseneke read out the last lines of his judgment in the Life Esidimeni Arbitration, there was a media scrum the likes of which I have not experienced before. Read more.

Vindication of the Rights of People with Mental Illnesses to be People

Life Esidimeni Arbitration: Testimonies

Posted in: Gauteng, Latest, Spotlight, Spotlight Edition 4

SECTION27 is representing 66 families whose loved ones passed away as a result of the Marathon Project. The arbitration heard heartbreaking testimony from family members – represented separately by SECTION27, The Legal Aid Clinic and Solidarity – about the state in which they found their loved ones.