Families of Life Esidimeni victims protest over pay outs

SAfm — Officials from the Gauteng government are expected to meet their counterparts from the Master of the High Court in order to seek assistance in establishing which family members have a right to receive compensation for the victims of the Esidimeni tragedy which saw 144 people die when the provincial health department moved mental patients to unfit NGOs in a drive to cut costs. The government says several people from the same family have been coming forward to claim for one person and that this has led to delays in payments. The relatives of the victims are staging a protest outside the premier’s office today because they want payments to be made speedily. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Christine Nxumalo who is member of the Life Esidimeni Committee for families.