Manamela evades questions on Life Esidimeni transfers
Former top official in the Gauteng Health Department, Dr. Makgabo Manamela has been asked about the decision that led to hundreds of psychiatric patients being transferred to various NGOs after a contract with Life Esidimeni was cancelled.
Chairperson of the Arbitration Hearings in to the Esidimeni tragedy, Justice Dikgang Moseneke wanted names.
However, getting former Director of Mental Health to say exactly who the instructions came from was like pulling teeth.
"Did you agree with the termination of the agreement with Life Esidimeni?" he asks.
"Can I answer and qualify that," she replies.
"You may qualify but you are supposed to answer first," he says.
More of the question and answer session continues here. Listen below.
143 mentally-ill patients have died after they were moved to unlicensed NGOs last year after the contract with the Life Esidimeni group was cancelled as a cost-cutting measure by the department.
Manamela made her first appearance before the Commission this week after her lawyer, Lerato Mashilane, brought an application to have the proceedings postponed for further preparation. The application was rejected.