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Dr Macabo Manamera testified that he was “surprised” by media reports that his contract with Life Esidimeni had ended.
Manamela told the inquest when he attended the first meeting with former Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu and the families of mental health care users, when two options were suggested:
She said her family opposed the proposal from the first meeting. But Mahlang said to them:there’s nothing more we can do”.
Despite his family’s objections, Manamera said at the inquest that a project team had been convened and instructed to procure an NGO to house mental health care users.
Manamera said that although she signed licenses for NGOs that patients were accepted into, it was her team’s responsibility, not hers, to select NGOs and make sure they were of the right standard. .
“support role”
She testified that her role was only one of “helping” and profiling which patients went to NGOs and which were released to family care.
Manamera was asked about the case of the Precious Angels NGO, which had expected to receive child patients and had prepared cots accordingly, but was sent adult patients instead.
Manamera replied: NGOs were free to accept patients according to their ability.
“I don’t know about it. It wasn’t reported to me that she was given a patient she didn’t have the skills to treat.”
Manamera, who testified on Tuesday, said the department did not have the capacity to accommodate more than 1,700 mental health care users who were due to be transferred from Life Esidimeni. At the time, she said, the department could only accommodate 116 beds.
“It was impossible to acknowledge the number of patients at the end.”
Patient transport ‘unrealistic’
Asked by her attorney, Russell Shibara, if she thought the transfer was realistic, she admitted, “It was actually unrealistic.”
Asked if she had expressed concerns to executives, Manamera said: You can find her other NGOs and see if they can complete the hospital renovation. ”
According to her, follow-up and progress meetings were chaired by either the MEC or Head of Department (HOD) at the time. [they were] powerful or hostile, in fact. Some might think that’s Mech’s style of management. There is no turning back!I found that in this environment you should do if it is possible [or not]…you have to find a way. ”
Shibara asked her to explain what he meant by ‘pushy’ and when she and her team attended a meeting with the MEC and department heads, it seemed like they were working under a lot of pressure. I said I feltthey didn’t [cooperate] they will be fired.
She said the pressure came from Qedani Mahlangu, the health MEC at the time.
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Shibala asked Manamera if he had the power to stop the termination of his contract with Life Esidimeni when he expressed concern that the South African Society of Psychiatrists (Sasop) had not given sufficient consideration to patient transfers. rice field.
“I didn’t have the power to stop it. The termination was done by HOD,” said Manamela. As Director, she has experienced many more senior positions such as Director, Deputy Director, HOD, and her MEC.
“But I didn’t just keep quiet. I advised Sassop that this was beyond my level. She said she asked them to send their letter to HOD or MEC.
Manamera went on to say that if she or anyone on her team believed the project would endanger people, she would have refused to continue.
She also said the ministry did not have access to enough NGOs but decided to go ahead with the project based on plans to refurbish a hospital that could later be used for patients.
The hearing continues Wednesday. DM/MC
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