Lying in State: The Life Esidimeni Tragedy

Eyewitness News goes inside the truth to help you understand how the Gauteng Health Department and its then MEC Qedani Mahlangu set in motion a chain of events which would see over 140 people killed after government cancelled its mental healthcare contract with Life Esidimeni.

Episodes in this series

Lying in State: The Life Esidimeni Tragedy - The Backstory (Episode 6)

21 August 2018 | 11 Minute Listen

Eyewitness News goes inside the truth of the Life Esidimeni tragedy in this six-part podcast series. In episode six, journalist Masego Rahlaga speaks to other reporters who covered the harrowing story about the impact it had on them.

Lying in State: The Life Esidimeni Tragedy - Why not even medical aid can help you (Episode 5)

25 July 2018 | 11 Minute Listen

Eyewitness News goes inside the truth of the Life Esidimeni tragedy in this six-part podcast series. In episode five, journalist Masego Rahlaga examines what the Life Esidimeni tragedy means for you and your loved ones, and why we all need to rely on the public healthcare sector for the treatment of terminal mental illnesses.

Lying in State: The Life Esidimeni Tragedy - Wasted taxes & ill health (Episode 4)

12 July 2018 | 14 Minute Listen

Eyewitness News goes inside the truth of the Life Esidimeni tragedy in this six-part podcast series. In episode four, journalist Masego Rahlaga examines the lack of accountability in the public healthcare sector and how the Health Department wastes millions due to negligence.

Lying in State: The Life Esidimeni Tragedy - The cost of cost-cutting (Episode 3)

21 June 2018 | 16 Minute Listen

Eyewitness News goes inside the truth of the Life Esidimeni tragedy in this six-part podcast series. In episode three, journalist Masego Rahlaga examines whether cost-cutting was the real reason the deal was ended.

Lying In State: The Life Esidimeni Tragedy - The Move Begins (Episode 2)

13 June 2018 | 18 Minute Listen

Eyewitness News goes inside the truth of the Life Esidimeni tragedy in this six-part podcast series. In episode two, journalist Masego Rahlaga examines the rushed, inhumane and chaotic transfer of patients from Life Esidimeni facilities to NGOs across Gauteng, often without the relatives of the patients being informed.

Lying In State: The Life Esidimeni Tragedy - The Decision (Episode 1)

04 June 2018 | 16 Minute Listen

Journalist Masego Rahlaga introduces you to the first of six episodes of a series in which Eyewitness News goes inside the truth of the Life Esidimeni tragedy. In episode one EWN looks at how the Gauteng Health Department and MEC Qedani Mahlangu came to make such a disastrous decision.