Investigation recommends that Kairos Centre’s licence be revoked, yet they are still operating

It is extremely distressing to learn that the Kairos Centre in Cullinan, Tshwane is still operating even though an investigation has found that there are no adequate systems in place to ensure the safety of the mentally ill patients in their care.

This is a clear indication that the lives of the most vulnerable are in danger as there is no constant monitoring to ensure their safety and that they do not endanger themselves and others around them.

This information was revealed to me by the MEC for Health, Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi, in reply to my questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL).

According to the MEC, there are currently no proper reporting systems in place where families or users can report concerns, complaints, or issues such as a visitors’ book or handover book.

Furthermore, the Kairos Centre files are not within the required norms and standards and to this end, there was no evidence in the file of negative behaviour or incidents, such as the regular absconds or suicide indications.

This is sheer carelessness and points to the fact that this centre does not take its duties and responsibilities seriously. In addition, the MEC also indicates that the absconding of two mentally ill patients was not reported to the district, families, or police and that the contact details of the family were not kept up to date.

The investigation into the Kairos Centre came as a result of the Democratic Alliance (DA) raising the alarm about the five patients who died at the Kairos Centre. Subsequently, this centre was then investigated for negligence.

The DA will continue to put pressure on the MEC for Health to ensure that the issues of negligence at the Kairos Centre are addressed as a matter of urgency. Furthermore, we demand that the recommendations made by the department are implemented, failing which this centre must be closed immediately and its license be revoked.

Five patients have died at Kairos Centre in two months, yet the department is still dragging its feet in implementing the recommendations. The DA will continue to fight to ensure that mentally impaired patients are treated with the dignity they deserve.

Five lives lost at Kairos in two months: How many more should die before MEC Mokgethi intervenes?

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is disheartened to learn of the fifth death of a mentally impaired patient at Kairos Centre in two months.  There are claims that patients are being neglected, starved and not served a balanced diet meal, with no proper regular monitoring of whether they are taking their medication and of their physical wellbeing.

It is deeply worrying that this facility is failing to ensure the safety, security, and wellbeing of its patients. The death of the fifth patient should have been prevented by properly trained and caring health care workers. 

It is alleged that two male patients ran away from Kairos Centre, where one of the patients was later found and returned to the centre while the other was chased away.

It is also alleged that the male patient who was chased away left a suicide note five days after being chased away from the centre. Obviously, without any food and nowhere to go, he decided that he could not continue with living and had run in front of a car.

The first incident was the unfortunate death of Shane Jordaan (30), who went missing from the centre on 4th June. His body was later found dumped in a ditch close to Cullinan. This followed the death of two other mentally ill patients and the tragic death of a female patient who committed suicide at this centre. 

There are just too many unanswered questions regarding the death of these five patients as well as the services being rendered to psychiatric patients at this centre. 

Patients who are being provided with the correct nutrition and are being stimulated in a loving and caring environment will not have a desire to run away or commit suicide. The number of runaways and unhappy patients is very concerning and justifies the need for an investigation against Kairos for negligence towards their patients.

The Gauteng Department of Health must be held accountable for all patients transferred to care facilities that they fund such as Kairos Centre. These centres must be evaluated by the department regularly to determine whether the living conditions are conducive for patients with such a debilitating chronic condition. 

Care workers must be adequately trained to assist patients during elevated or depressed mood swings. Correct meal planning is essential to ensure that patients eat a balanced diet for optimal physical and mental wellbeing.

The DA will continue to hound the Gauteng MEC for Health, Nomathemba Mokgethi to ensure that a complete investigation is conducted into the role of the department’s officials and that accuracy is reflected in their evaluation reports. 

The City of Tshwane is in desperate need of centres such as Kairos and we cannot afford to close it down but to ensure that all services are provided in a clean and healthy environment with monthly audits that can be trusted. We also demand that MEC Mokgethi must make public the report on the inspection conducted at the centre recently.

This is not a matter that the DA will allow to be swept under the carpet, and the department will need to come clean about its role and lack of oversight in ensuring that these patients are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.

Local Government Elections are coming up! Visit check.da.org.za to check your voter registration status. 

Four lives lost at Kairos Centre, yet no one is held accountable putting more mentally impaired patients at risk

Today, I laid criminal charges against the Kairos Centre for negligent conduct at the Cullinan Police Station in Tshwane.

Four lives have been lost at the Kairos Centre in two months under very questionable circumstances and there are claims that patients with special needs are being neglected, with no proper regular monitoring of whether they are taking their medication.

The first incident was the unfortunate death of Shane Jordaan (30), followed by the two other mentally ill patients at the Kairos Centre. Jordaan, a mentally ill patient, went missing from the centre on 4th June and his body was later found dumped in a ditch close to Cullinan.

The recent incident is the tragic death of a female patient who committed suicide at this centre. A woman who decided that life was not worth living ended her life while everyone else was having their lunch. Where were the caregivers during that time and why did they not notice that she was not present at the dining hall during lunch?

This is evident that patients at this centre are being neglected while such patients with special needs are supposed to be constantly monitored to ensure that they do not endanger themselves and others around them.

Furthermore, during a search for Jordaan, they found 20kg of discarded medication inside a black plastic container right next to the centre. According to the information from the Kairos Centre management, Jordaan climbed over a 6-foot wire fence to escape from the centre – a clear indication there is a lack of security and proper observation of all patients at this centre.

The Gauteng Department of Health has failed dismally to conduct proper regular monitoring and evaluation of this centre that they fund. Instead of ensuring that vulnerable people are taken care of and that they receive the best care that they deserve, it chooses to side with the centre.

The DA has been reliably informed that the Gauteng Department of Health will be conducting an inspection at the centre on Friday and all centre staff members are on standby to clean, paint the walls and wash patient’s clothes to ensure that the centre is presentable for this event.

Photos of the cleaning can be accessed here, here, here and here

It is for this reason that Kairos Centre needs to be investigated for negligence towards their patients.

While the Department might be fooled by the management of the centre, will not fall for any cheap stunts; we will ensure that negligence at this centre is exposed and that no stone is left unturned.

It is now in the hands of the South African Police Service to ensure that investigation is conducted and those implicated are held to account to the fullest extent of the law.

The DA will continue to hound the Gauteng MEC for Health, Nomathemba Mokgethi to ensure that a complete investigation is conducted into the role of the department’s officials and that accuracy is reflected in their evaluation reports. The City of Tshwane is in desperate need of centres such as Kairos and we cannot afford to close it down but to ensure that all services are provided in a clean and healthy environment with monthly audits that can be trusted.

Local Government Elections are coming up! Visit check.da.org.za to check your voter registration status.

Echoes of Life Esidimeni after missing Kairos Centre patient found dead: MEC in denial

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is heartbroken to learn about the unfortunate death of Shane Jordaan (30) and two other mentally ill patients of the Kairos Centre in Cullinan, Tshwane.

Jordaan, a mentally impaired patient, went missing from the Kairos Centre on 4th June under very questionable circumstances. His body was later found dumped in a ditch close to Cullinan.

According to the information from the Kairos Centre management, he climbed over a 6-foot wire fence to escape from the centre – a clear indication that a lack of security and proper observation of all patients provided the opportunity for Shane Jordaan to disappear.

The DA has been reliably informed that Jordaan is the third patient from this centre that has died in a space of one month, yet the Gauteng MEC for Health, Nomathemba Mokgethi is defending the centre, claiming that it is well maintained with a homely atmosphere.

The MEC states that her department had regular visits to Kairos to inspect the premises and they were happy with the conditions shown to them. The department also claims that Jordaan’s family has not visited him for at least seven years which is incorrect according to Jordaan’s mother.

The disappearance and eventual discovery of Jordaan’s body, more than a month after he disappeared and the death of other two mentally ill patients brings up memories of the Life Esidimeni tragedy, where 144 patients died due to the provincial Department of Health’s negligence.

Provincial departments who fund institutions to look after mentally ill patients are responsible for ensuring that these facilities are regularly scrutinised so that parents and families can sleep without distress, knowing their loved ones are receiving the best possible care.

The Health Department has a responsibility to conduct regular monitoring and evaluation of all the centres that are funded by the state to ensure that vulnerable people are taken care of and receive the best care that they deserve. It is evident that they have failed miserably in this regard, with patients not being given the treatment and care they are entitled to.

The DA will continue to hound MEC Mokgethi to ensure a completely open and transparent investigation is conducted on what caused the death of three mentally ill patients at this centre. This is not a matter that the DA will allow to be swept under the rug, and the department will need to come clean about the apparent negligence on their part.

Further to this, the DA will be laying criminal charges against Kairos Centre for negligent conduct at the Cullinan Police Station. We also demand to know the cause of death of all three patients and should it be found that there were elements of neglect and negligence, those responsible should face severe consequences of their irresponsible actions.

Another potential Life Esidimeni with one special needs patient still missing from Kairos Centre

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is appalled to learn about the terrible living conditions at the Kairos Centre in Cullinan, Tshwane, where patients with special needs are being neglected, with monitoring of whether they are taking their medication, and rooms being left in a filthy state. The centre is also plagued with the leaking of raw sewerage.

These terrible living conditions were revealed after one of the mentally impaired patients, Shane Jordaan (30) went missing earlier this month.

According to the mother of the missing patient, the centre never bothered to inform her that her son had gone missing and only learnt of her son’s disappearance from the police five days later.

It is cruel and unacceptable for Kairos Centre to not inform parents or guardians immediately after the disappearance of their child, spouse, or relative.

Jordaan’s mother was further informed by the police that the conditions of the room her son and other male patients shared was left filthy, with unused medicine all over the floor, and blood and semen on the bedding.

Jordaan’s mother states that she was never allowed to go inside her son’s room – a clear indication that the centre was hiding something. Whenever her son came home to visit, he was often drugged and unable to engage coherently with the family.

Furthermore, the Cullinan CPF states that while searching for the missing patient, they found 20kg of discarded medication inside a black plastic container right next to the centre. The CPF also confirmed that the police were refused entry inside the premises but after legal action was threatened, the dog unit was granted admission.

Kairos Centre is an NGO that is licensed in terms of the Mental Health Care Act, 2002 as an adult psychiatry residential care facility for both females and males, as well as a residential care facility for geriatric patients. It is deeply worrying that this facility is failing to ensure the safety and security of its patients, especially considering it is funded by public money through the Gauteng Department of Health and looks after 125 patients.

The DA has already informed the Gauteng MEC for Health, Nomathemba Mokgethi about the circumstances of this centre and requested an urgent and immediate investigation into conditions, and the lack of security that provided the opportunity for Shane Jordaan to disappear.

The Health Department has a responsibility to conduct regular monitoring and evaluation of all the centres that are funded by the state to ensure that vulnerable people are taken care of and receive the best care that they deserve. It is evident that they have failed miserably in this regard, with patients not being given the treatment and care they are entitled to.

The disappearance of Shane Jordaan immediately brings up memories of the Life Esidimeni tragedy, where 144 patients died due to the provincial Department of Health’s negligence.

The DA will continue to hound MEC Mokgethi to ensure an investigation is conducted, and will further request the reasons as to why the department did not know of the conditions at Kairos Centre. This is not a matter that the DA will allow to be swept under the rug, and the department will need to come clean about this case of negligence on their part.

Local Government Elections are coming up in 2021! Visit check.da.org.za to check your voter registration status.