Covid-19 restrictions as well as the unavailability of witnesses and documents are some of the excuses that professional health bodies have put forward for why disciplinary hearings against officials implicated in the Life Esidimeni tragedy have still not commenced, says a News24 report.

In 2018, Health Ombudsman Professor Malegapuru Makgoba recommended Dr Tiego ‘Barney’ Selebano and Dr Makgabo Manamela be reported to their professional medical bodies for investigation for their alleged role in the Life Esidimeni tragedy.

Makgoba called Selebano and Manamela the architects of the project that led to 144 people dying when they were moved from Life Esidimeni to NGOs.

They both resigned in 2017.

The Health Professions Council (HPCSA) was supposed to look into Selebano's conduct, while the SA Nursing Council (SANC) was supposed to investigate Manamela.

At the time of the project, Selebano was the Gauteng Health Department's head of department, while Manamela, a nurse by profession, was the head of mental health services.

Despite Makgoba recommending swift action against them, their disciplinary hearings have been delayed for several years.

In written responses to parliamentary questions by the DA's Siviwe Gwarube, the HPCSA said Selebano's conduct was investigated in October 2018.

‘After deliberations based on the available evidence, the committee determined that there are grounds for a professional conduct inquiry into the conduct of Dr TE Selebano and directed that an inquiry into (the) matter be held.’

It added disciplinary action was ongoing. The case will now be heard from 13 to 15 October.

The SANC said not getting documentation from the Gauteng government regarding the case had caused delays.

It added it was unable to predict when the case against Manamela would be concluded, saying this depended on the availability of witnesses and the volume of evidence it needed to consider.

Full News24 report