A report in South Africa detailing the death of 94 people with mental health disorders who were moved from the Life Esidemeni Hospital and placed in inadequate facilities has sparked outrage and led to Qedani Mahlangu stepping down as the local government Minister of Health in Gauteng province. Janine Bezuidenhout and Shehnaz Munshi unpack the report and what it reveals about mental health care in South Africa.
While this story and report are 3 years old (in 2020), the ability of the health care system to support and care for citizens with mental health issues has not substantially improved.