The damning findings by the Health Ombud into the death of 35-year-old Lerato Mohlamme at the George Mukhari Academic Hospital shows that mental health care is still neglected ten years after the Life Esidimeni tragedy.
Mohlamme died from burn injuries in June 2024 following a fire in a hospital seclusion room.
The Ombud’s report shows disturbing neglect and abuse, with gross lapses in the supervision of a high-risk psychiatric patient. There were deficiencies in clinical management, poor adherence to mental health care protocols, and inadequate record-keeping. The report also points to crowded and unsafe wards.
I am particularly disturbed that Mohlamme was denied food as a punishment. This shows the depth of the inhumanity in this case.
Premier Panyaza Lesufi has now apologised to Mohlamme’s family, but this does not excuse his failure to take decisive action to fix the Gauteng Health Department which is plagued by corruption and mismanagement.
Last year, he was forced to apologise to cancer patients who suffered and died because R250 million budgeted for radiation therapy was not spent.
The painful reality is that many of Gauteng’s mental health facilities are in poor condition, ill-equipped, understaffed, and poorly managed. Despite repeated warnings and the lessons of Life Esidimeni, the provincial government has failed to prioritise mental health care and protect the most vulnerable patients.
I will closely monitor the Ombud’s recommendations in this case, including upgrades at the hospital and real consequences for those responsible for the shocking mistreatment of Mohlamme that led to her death.
Apologies are not enough! The Premier must fire Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko and put top class and honest officials to provide quality public health care.