DA challenges legal fees for Qedani Mahlangu in Esidimeni inquest

20 April 2023

The Democratic Alliance has written to Justice Minister Ronald Lamola to challenge the State Attorney paying her legal fees in the Life Esidimeni inquest into the deaths of 144 mental health patients who died when she was Gauteng Health MEC.

DA Shadow Minister for Justice Glynnis Breytenbach sent him a letter yesterday requesting full reasons why the State is continuing to pay for Mahlangu’s legal fees even though she resigned from her position in 2017.

Mahlangu’s estimated legal costs are reportedly about R250 000 for a single day’s work.

It is outrageous that taxpayers are paying for Mahlangu’s exorbitant legal fees when she is the prime culprit who pushed for 1500 mental patients to be sent to NGOs that mistreated them.

This is in addition to the R405 million paid to patients and their families who suffered in this tragedy.

It looks like Mahlangu still has ANC friends who are happy to use public money to assist her.

Why must taxpayers pay millions of rands for her legal costs?

She should also be made to pay a portion of the pay-out costs to the Esidimeni victims, but the provincial government has refused to apply the Apportionment of Damages Act in this matter.

Meanwhile, the inquest has been further delayed as her lawyers sort out their payment by the State Attorney.

The DA will continue to push for justice for the Esidimeni victims, with criminal charges against Mahlangu and others who should appear in court and pay for their legal defence from their own pockets.

Issued by Jack Bloom, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health, 20 April 2023