Kaya News Reporter
Public interest law Centre Section 27 has welcomed the resumption of the Life Esidimeni Inquest.
Procedural delays in the case since August last year have meant a delay in justice for the families.
In 2016, 144 patients died in psychiatric facilities in Gauteng from a range of causes including starvation and neglect.
The inquest resumed on Monday and will seek to determine how moving up to 1000 patients were sanctioned.
Questions on how licenses were issued and by whom were raised. Patients were moved to NGO facilities that were not licensed to care for mentally ill patients.
A lengthy arbitration process was concluded in 2018 and the outcome was that the families would need to receive compensation.
Damages included costs for funeral expenses, emotional trauma and constitutional damages.
According to reports only R6.5 million of the R120 million that was set aside for the families was paid out.
In 2020, more than 80 claimants had still not received payment.
This is a developing story.