Gauteng MEC for Health and Social Development Qedani Mahlangu has been accused of misleading the public about psychiatric patients’ living conditions at non-governmental organisations.

“The treatment that the patients at the Takalani centre receive is beyond human imagination because the current staff members abuse the children psychologically and emotionally.

 “This year‚ they (the Gauteng health department) brought staff members that used to work at Esidimeni Life Healthcare and some of those staff members have bipolar disorder. How can [Mahlangu] bring staff like that to an institution of mentally deranged and physically disabled?” said a former staff member who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation.

The remarks come in the wake of reports that a total of 36 psychiatric patients that were transferred from Life Esidimeni to NGOs earlier this year by the Gauteng Health Department have died.

The psychiatric patients were moved to 122 NGOs in the province after the department cancelled its long-running contract with Life Healthcare which looked after about 2‚000 patients.

The former staff member said Mahlangu has been misleading the public with false information.

“Mahlangu tries to defend herself by saying that the NGOs have adequate food whilst there is no food (at the NGOs). These children are severe as they cannot feed nor bath themselves. The situation at Takalani has worsened‚” said the member who lives in Diepkloof‚ Soweto.

The centre is home to over 300 mentally and physically challenged adults and children aged between three and 60.

Takalani Centre manager Michael Seshoka was not available for comment.