Police in KwaZulu-Natal have opened an inquiry docket after the Democratic Alliance in the province attempted to lay culpable homicide charges against Motsoaledi and Dhlomo.

DA Provincial Spokesperson on Health, Dr Imraan Keeka, says when they arrived at the police station they were advised to follow a process that would provide full details of the deceased.

Keeka says the party met with the head of legal services in the province who assured them that an investigator would be appointed on Thursday morning.

“Our consultations with our legal experts at party level were that they believe that it was just intended to frustrate the process. We have precedence in the past for example in the Esidimeni Crisis where the process was smooth and it was an identical process that we followed. So, we cannot understand why the Point Street Police Station or the South African Police Services in KZN have adopted these means of trying to delay justice to those who have lost their lives.”

However, Spokesperson for the KwaZulu-Natal South African Police Services, Thembeka Mbhele, has denied that police tried to frustrate the party from opening a case.

“There were no elements of that culpable homicide they were talking about. Also, there were no elements of that crime because, for instance, in culpable homicide case they wanted to be opened, there should be someone, a victim, a deceased even if it is not intentional. Now, they couldn't have anybody that says my relative died because of 123 and 4. That is why an enquiry was opened. The allegations are going to be investigated then if there is a case it has to be opened ... then it will be opened.”

DA Shadow Minister of Health Patricia Kopane says both the minister and the MEC must be held accountable for failing to protect South African citizens who have no other choice, but to rely on the failing public health system.

“You wait five months and for you to get treatment that is radiation and chemotherapy; you wait another eight months and cancer is one of the diseases that spreads so quickly. So, you can just imagine. Patients here are being given a life sentence. You go and die at home. As public representatives and politicians, it is our responsibility to be the mouthpiece for those who cannot stand for themselves and the reality is it is the poor people who suffer the most because they rely on the State.”

The DA in KwaZulu-Natal has vowed to continue efforts to have the minister and MEC charged with culpable homicide in the deaths of cancer patients in the province.

The party says it believes that both officials should appear before a court of law so that the families of the deceased cancer patients can receive justice.

The Department of Health was not available for comment.  

Source: SABC